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Magpies plunder Palace

London - Newcastle made it six wins in seven games on Saturday with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Crystal Palace in their Premier League clash in London.

Victory leaves the Magpies -- whose manager Alan Pardew played for Palace and scored a famous goal for them in an FA Cup semi-final in 1990 which took them to the final -- sixth in the table, six points off leaders Liverpool.

Palace -- who have not beaten Newcastle at home in their last five meetings now dating back to January 1984 in the old Division Two, when they won 3-1 -- stay in the relegation zone, third from bottom.

Palace were under pressure from the start despite the wet conditions which should have suited their more physical approach in contrast to the passing game of the Magpies.

However, the visitors were unable to turn their dominance into goals -- Mathieu Debuchy going closest with a header -- until Yohan Cabaye popped up in the 25th minute to celebrate his return from a one match ban with a goal.

Cabaye's shot home after Moussa Sissoko picked him out in the area to make it Newcastle's 11th successive goal scored by a Frenchman -- indeed 21 of their 22 Premier League goals have been scored by Frenchmen with the exception being Paul Dummett of Wales.

However, that run was ended when Palace's Welsh international defender Danny Gabbidon put Debuchy's cross past his own 'keeper Julian Speroni in the 39th minute.

Newcastle were not overly ambitious -- save for a Cabaye freekick that tested Speroni -- and it was Palace who missed two chances to score as first Marouane Chamakh sent a header over the bar and then Cameron Jerome blasted over from close range.

This stung Newcastle into action as well as the introduction of Hatem Ben Arfa as he immediately produced a sublime piece of skill to tee up Yoann Gouffran, but his shot from outside the area came back off the post.

Ben Arfa had a go himself shortly afterwards but Speroni did well to save with his legs.

However, he could do nothing to prevent the lively former Marseille star from making it 3-0 from the penalty spot after Jonathan Parr fouled Shola Ameobi.

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