Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes inspired his side to victory as they began the new year with a hard-fought victory against Crystal Palace.

Head coach Eddie Howe called January a "season-defining" month for his side before the game and suggested Newcastle "won't get another chance" to kick-start their league season once and for all.

Yet it looked like both sides were set to share the spoils after Anthony Gordon and Joelinton had goals disallowed in the first half, and Will Hughes wasted a golden opportunity to open the scoring for Crystal Palace.

But Guimaraes led by example with another big goal on home soil to break the deadlock with less than 20 minutes to go.

It was Guimaraes who got there ahead of Justin Devenny to head the ball past Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson and give the host lift-off.

Newcastle have dropped some precious points from winning positions this season but, this time, Howe's team finished strongly and Guimaraes had a big hand in his side's second.

It was from his inswinging corner kick that Newcastle doubled their lead after Henderson could only parry the wicked delivery, and the ball eventually fell to Malick Thiaw, who swept home.

Newcastle leapfrogged Crystal Palace in the table in the process and have moved up to ninth.

Palace, meanwhile, have slipped to 14th and Oliver Glasner's side are now without a win in seven games in all competitions.

St James' felt edgy and nervy.

There were little more than 20 minutes to go and a late winner was far from a foregone conclusion for the hosts.

But the man who scored Newcastle's final goal of 2025 stepped up with their first of 2026 to send his side on the way to another important victory.

Time and time again Guimaraes has delivered with crucial goals at St James' in recent months.

There were openers against Crystal Palace, Burnley and Nottingham Forest, and even a late winner versus Fulham.

Guimaraes, in the process, has already matched his best goalscoring season for the club with seven goals.

To say he is this side's talisman would be an understatement.

"Bruno is a very special player, person and character," Howe said.

"He's very positive, has great energy and played a captain's role because that game was always going to be decided by a very key moment - and he has come up with the big one for us. He's done it countless times.

"Your big players normally decide big games and today was a big game for us decided by a huge player in our recent history."

This was ultimately a debut which ended in defeat for Crystal Palace forward Brennan Johnson.

Although Johnson only completed his £35m move from Tottenham Hotspur on Friday, it was rather telling that Glasner threw him straight in from the off at St James'.

It reflected the lack of options at his disposal but, also, his side's recent issues in front of goal.

Johnson offered a couple of glimpses of what he will offer with some neat footwork and rapid pace on the break.

One such counter saw Johnson race down the right and cut the ball back to Jean-Philippe Mateta - only for the Palace striker to see his shot blocked.

But Johnson is not going to solve Crystal Palace's issues alone, on an afternoon where the visitors mustered just a single shot on target.

How Glasner will rue Hughes' first-half miss, in particular, the midfielder somehow poking wide from close range to leave his manager with his hands on his head on the touchline.

Newcastle host Leeds United at St James' Park on Wednesday (20:15 GMT) before another home game against Bournemouth in the FA Cup on Saturday (15:00).

Crystal Palace welcome Aston Villa to Selhurst Park on Wednesday (19:30) before travelling to Moss Rose to take on non-league Macclesfield in the FA Cup on Saturday (12:15).