It’s a question most Crystal Palace supporters and perhaps even Roy Hodgson must be wondering – what would this season have been like if Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise had not spent the vast majority of it on the treatment table?
A third successive victory for Oliver Glasner’s side thanks to Jean-Philippe Mateta’s 10th and 11th goals of the season ended Newcastle’s recent revival and left Eddie Howe’s side knowing they face a battle to secure European football again. It had been almost exactly a year since Palace last won three in a row after Hodgson returned to replace Patrick Vieira in a blaze of glory before stepping down after a poor run of results.
