Full-time: Crystal Palace 2 Newcastle United 3 (AET)

PERHAPS this is proof that Alan Pardew cannot do anything right after all. Invited to remove his side from the Capital One Cup by a board that openly admits it does not prioritise the knock-out competitions, the Newcastle United manager duly watched his players claim a dramatic extra-time win over Crystal Palace.

For once, it will be Mike Ashley rather than Newcastle’s long-suffering supporters who is grumbling about Pardew’s performance this morning.

Having been prevented from winning in normal time by Sullay Kaikai’s stoppage-time header, the Magpies booked a fourth-round tie against Manchester City when Paul Dummett stooped to head home Adam Armstrong’s cross in the second half of extra-time.

The win might not mean much in the grand scheme of things given that Pardew will almost certainly play another weakened team at the Etihad Stadium next month, but at least Newcastle’s players can prepare for Monday’s Premier League game at Stoke having rediscovered the winning feeling. And if the narrowest of wins at Selhurst Park proves the moment that kick-starts Emmanuel Riviere’s Newcastle career, it will have been even more worthwhile.

Riviere scored his first two goals as a Magpies player to overturn the advantage Palace secured through Dwight Gayle’s 25th-minute penalty and begin repaying the £6.5m transfer fee that made him Pardew’s second-most expensive summer signing.

His first goal was an exquisite strike from outside the area, and the manner in which he nonchalantly dispatched a second-half spot-kick belied any suggestions that he was struggling for confidence following a slow start to life on Tyneside.

It looked like his double would settle things as the clock ticked past 90 minutes, but Kaikai struck two minutes into stoppage time to take the game into an extra period.

Newcastle’s task became harder when Mehdi Abeid was dismissed for a second booking midway through the first period of extra-time, but Dummett settled things when he stole ahead of Kaikai to head home with nine minutes left.

Riviere’s double meant he was the stand-out player, but with Pardew making six changes from the side that drew with Hull last weekend, a number of fringe players finally enhanced their chances of staking a claim for a more regular starting spot.

Armstrong worked tirelessly in the attacking-midfield role that is vacant following a long-term injury to Siem de Jong, while Sammy Ameobi and Gabriel Obertan both made useful contributions from their respective flanks.

While Palace boss Neil Warnock went even further than Pardew as he changed all 11 of his players from last weekend, perhaps Newcastle’s resources are not quite as shallow as has often appeared the case.

With a number of younger players in the side, there was always an energy and purpose to Newcastle’s attacking play, with Ameobi combining effectively with Dummett on the left-hand side before the break and Armstrong constantly looking to support Riviere from his advanced midfield position.

Ameobi curled well over the crossbar in the eighth minute, before Riviere only narrowly failed to connect with a dangerous delivery from Dummett after the full-back scorched past Adrian Mariappa.

At the other end, Palace’s only offering in the opening quarter-of-an-hour was an early effort from Gayle that whistled past the left-hand upright, but this is a Magpies defence that is prone to self-induced errors, and it did not take long for the jitters to become apparent.

Daryl Janmaat got away with his first mistake, combining with an equally-frantic Steven Taylor to close down Kevin Doyle after his dreadful back-pass threatened to afford the Republic of Ireland international a clear run on goal.

There was to be no escape when the Dutchman erred again six minutes later though, with his needless lunge at Zaha enabling Gayle to break the deadlock from the penalty spot.

Zaha ran the Magpies ragged when he was introduced from the bench in this month’s Premier League draw at St James’, but he had barely been involved in last night’s game before he drove into the left-hand side of the area and tempted Janmaat in an unnecessary attempt to win possession.

There wasn’t much in the challenge, but Newcastle’s right-back failed to make contact with the ball, and Gayle casually drilled past Rob Elliot’s left hand. He must have been watching Tuesday’s events at Anfield for tips.

The visitors might have equalised straight away had Riviere not stabbed Ameobi’s low cross wide from inside the six-yard box, but having looked anything but a natural finisher in 525 goalless minutes as a Newcastle player, the Frenchman suddenly exhibited an impeccable attacking technique to fire his side level.

Receiving the ball from Armstrong with his back to goal, Riviere spun away from Hangeland before guiding a side-footed strike into the bottom left-hand corner. It was a magnificent finish, quite out of keeping with most of his previous efforts since his summer move from Monaco.

It proved the first half of a quick-fire double as after waiting almost six-and-a-half games for his first goal in English football, the 24-year-old claimed two in the space of 12 minutes either side of the interval.

The second came from the penalty spot, and owed much to some incisive dribbling from Ameobi, who danced his way into the area to elicit a crude foul from Palace skipper Patrick McCarthy.

Fiendishly difficult to defend against in his most incisive moments, Ameobi has influenced far too few matches during his Newcastle career, but having been challenged to finally live up to his billing by Pardew, the 22-year-old responded with a burst of pace that had an instant effect. Riviere was coolness personified as he chipped down the middle from the spot.

Armstrong would have extended Newcastle’s lead had Wayne Hennessey not tipped his long-range effort over the crossbar, and the Palace goalkeeper’s save proved crucial as the hosts levelled in the second minute of stoppage time.

Elliot thrust out his leg to save Kaikai’s initial shot, but was powerless to prevent the Palace substitute from scoring at the second attempt.

Match facts

Goals:

1-0: Gayle (25, pen, drilled home spot-kick after Janmaat brought down Zaha on the right side of the area)

1-1: Riviere (36, received Armstrong’s pass with his back to goal and spun past Hangeland before side-footing into bottom corner)

1-2: Riviere (48, pen, chipped spot-kick down the middle after Ameobi was chopped down by McCarthy)

2-2: Kaikai (90, drilled home at the second attempt after his first shot from Mariappa’s cross had been saved by Elliot)

2-3: Dummett (121, stole ahead of Kaikai to direct home a diving header from Armstrong’s left-wing cross)

Bookings: Haidara (73, foul), Abeid (89, foul), Elliot (90, time wasting), Bannan (115, foul)

Sending Off: Abeid (100, second yellow card, foul)

Referee: Robert Madley (Wakefield) – Both of his penalty decisions were justified and he didn’t really have any choice about Abeid’s red card 7

Attendance: 13,773

Entertainment: ****

Crystal Palace (4-4-2):

Hennessey 5; Mariappa 5, McCarthy 4 (Gray 90), Hangeland 4, Fryers 6; Zaha 5, Guedioura 4, Williams 5 (Kaikai 80), BANNAN 6; Doyle 4 (Johnson 71), Gayle 6.

Subs (not used): Price (gk), Ward, Ramage, Kelly.

Newcastle (4-2-3-1):

7 Elliot: Made a decent save from Bannan’s first-half free-kick, and almost prevented Kaikai from scoring Palace’s equaliser

4 Janmaat: Conceded a penalty with a needless challenge and almost laid on another goal with an awful back-pass

6 Coloccini: Led the rest of the back four effectively throughout and tracked Gayle’s movement extremely well

6 S Taylor: Slotted back in to replace Williamson with a minimum of fuss and won some important second-half headers

8 Dummett: Threatened repeatedly on the overlap before the break, and showed strength and determination to head home the winner

6 Colback: Formed a valuable defensive shield to prevent Palace’s midfielders having an influence and passed the ball well

5 Abeid: His energy and work-rate were positive features of Newcastle’s play, but his rash challenge on Zaha earned a second booking in extra-time

6 Obertan: Made some dangerous breaks and got into some good positions, but his final delivery continues to let him down

8 Armstrong: Threatened repeatedly from the hole behind Riviere and set up Dummett’s winner with a great cross from the left

6 Ameobi: Was quiet for long periods, but made a crucial second-half break into the box to win the penalty that ultimately settled things

8 Riviere: Got off the mark with a clinical long-range finish and held his nerve superbly from the spot – an impressive attacking display

Subs:

6 Haidara (for Janmaat, 46): Came in on the left-hand side and, aside from one crude challenge that earned a booking, did well

6 Sissoko (for Ameobi, 67): Provided some thrust down the right-hand side and always got back to carry out his defensive duties

Perez (for Riviere, 81)

(not used): Alnwick (gk), Anita, Cabella, Ferreyra.

Man Of The Match: EMMANUEL RIVIERE – The Frenchman produced easily his best display in a Newcastle shirt as he finally showed he has what it takes to succeed in English football.