HAVING watched Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes hog the headlines at Newcastle United this season, the club’s other South American, Miguel Almiron, clearly thought it was time he got in on the act.

Almiron’s first-half finish secured the 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace that took the Magpies to the 40-point mark and enabled Eddie Howe to become the first Newcastle manager since Sir Bobby Robson to preside over six home wins in a row.

Last night’s success was arguably the most hard-earned of the lot, with Newcastle having to withstand a sustained bout of second-half pressure from a Palace side that have now slipped below United in the table.

Dan Burn and Fabian Schar were once again outstanding at the heart of defence, with Matt Targett and Emil Krafth proving equally resilient in the full-back berths, with their efforts ensuring Almiron’s curled 32nd-minute strike was decisive.

It was the Paraguayan’s first goal of the season, and a fitting reward for an effervescent attacking display that saw Almiron steal the limelight from his continental counterparts. The attacking-midfielder has had to be patient as he has waited for an opportunity under Howe, but on this evidence, he more than merits a place in the team. Perhaps the Wor Flags group will have to invest in a Paraguayan flag to go along with the Brazilian ones that currently flutter around St James’ Park.

Newcastle’s home has certainly become a fortress in the last few months, with last night’s victory meaning Howe’s side have not dropped a point on home turf since the January draw with Watford that seemed likely to signal a protracted battle against relegation. Instead, with five games still to play, the Magpies find themselves in the somewhat remarkable position of being 11th in the table, a whopping 15 points clear of safety and a point off ninth-placed Leicester.

The turnaround in the last three months has been truly incredible, to the point where another month of matches might well have seen United challenging for Europe. Who on earth would have seen that coming when Howe replaced Steve Bruce in November.

Newcastle went into last night’s game on the back of successive home victories over Wolves and Leicester, and the confidence flowing through Howe’s side was apparent from the outset.

Under Steve Bruce, Newcastle’s players had seemed afraid of being in possession, hence their desire to sit back and invite the opposition on to them before looking to break. There were times earlier this season when the Magpies looked incapable of stringing five passes together, let alone spending five minutes patiently rotating the ball as they probed and looked for a weakness in their opponents’ defence.

Howe has changed their outlook entirely, and while Crystal Palace’s robustness meant Newcastle’s dominance of possession did not immediately translate into a flurry of opportunities last night, it was nevertheless pleasing to see a home side at St James’ Park so comfortable with the ball at their feet.

In fairness, Allan Saint-Maximin has never needed a second invitation to seize the initiative, and having been somewhat out of sorts in recent weeks, the Frenchman was the subject of last night’s pre-match flag display from Wor Flags. A gold number ten dominated the Gallowgate before kick-off, along with a huge banner displaying a celebrating Saint-Maximin. Not for the first time in the last few months, this was Newcastle, once again united.

On the pitch, Saint-Maximin was his usual extravagant self in the early exchanges, whipping the crowd into a frenzy with a series of frantic step-overs deep inside the Crystal Palace half and going close in the tenth minute with a low effort that was saved by Vicente Guaita.

Almiron, who retained his place ahead of a fit-again Joe Willock, also threatened in the early stages with a shot that was blocked by an excellent covering tackle from Marc Guehi, and the Paraguayan thought he should have had a penalty when he tried his luck again on the quarter-hour mark.

Almiron’s snapshot clearly struck the outstretched arm of Cheikhou Kouyate, but the Palace midfielder was stood no more than a yard away from him, and VAR did not feel the need to interfere with Tony Harrington’s on-field decision not to award a spot-kick.

If nothing else, though, the incident confirmed Almiron’s attacking intent, and when the South American threatened again shortly after the half-hour mark, he delivered a superb opening goal.

The move for the opener began with Emil Krafth finding Guimaraes from a throw-in. The Brazilian swivelled and floated a pinpoint ball over Tyrick Mitchell, enabling Almiron to take on the full-back in a foot race.

Almiron won it, and after steadying himself on the right of the area, the forward curled a magnificent left-footed strike beyond Guaita and into the top corner. It was Almiron’s first Newcastle goal for 14 months, with the 28-year-old having also claimed his first goal for the club against Palace.

Suddenly, Newcastle were swarming all over their opponents from all angles, and Guaita was forced to get down smartly to make decent saves from both Almiron and Guimaraes as the Magpies threatened to add to their lead before half-time.

Palace barely featured at all as an attacking threat before the break, although a momentary lapse from Joelinton almost enabled the Eagles to equalise four minutes before the interval.

The Brazilian dawdled in possession on the edge of the area, but while Odsonne Edouard stole the ball and got a shot away, Martin Dubravka got down to smother the Frenchman’s low shot.

Dubravka’s save ensured the Magpies took a fully-deserved lead into the interval, and the hosts should really have doubled their lead three minutes into the second half. Joelinton was completely unmarked as he met Targett’s free-kick at the back post, but his downward header flew well wide of the upright.

Unsurprisingly, Palace boss Patrick Vieira looked to change things in the second half, bringing on James McArthur and Jean-Philippe Mateta to follow the first-half introduction of Jordan Ayew in an attempt to add some energy and attacking threat to his side.

His alterations had a mildly positive impact, with Palace spending more time in the Newcastle half after the break, but with Burn and Schar continuing to look rock solid at the heart of the home defence, the Magpies’ goal was still rarely threatened.

One of the visitors’ best moments came midway through the second half, but while Edouard threaded a deft through ball through the heart of the Newcastle defence, Wilfried Zaha dragged his first-time effort tamely wide of the left-hand post. Had his strike been on target, Dubravka might well have been in trouble.

Edouard glanced a header straight at Dubravka shortly after, with Palace pegging Newcastle back into their own half in the closing stages of the game.

The Magpies spent most of the final 20 minutes on the back foot, but their defensive organisation never faltered and they were able to see things out without any real alarm.