Newcastle United Under-21s 1 Crystal Palace Under-21s 0 | OneFootball

The in-form forward fired the hosts ahead after the half-hour mark, grabbing his fourth goal in his last four league outings at under-21 level by steering the ball home from Matt Targett's teasing free-kick.

Lewis Miley and Targett played 79 and 60 respective minutes before the young Magpies recorded a fourth win in their last five Premier League 2 matches as well as a fourth consecutive victory across all competitions.

Played in tricky weather conditions, Newcastle's second-string controlled large parts of possession of the first-half before Emerson was unable to fire the hosts ahead towards the half-hour mark.

After Miley intercepted Eyimofe Jemide's pass inside his own penalty area, the England Under-21 international darted into the box before picking out the Carlisle-born winger inside the six-yard area but could only direct his first-time effort into the gloves of Palace goalkeeper Louie Moulden.

Jay Turner-Cooke, who spent the first-half of the 2023/24 campaign on loan at Scottish Premiership side St Johnstone, was unable to net his third goal of the season at under-21 level as the South Shields-born youngster latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the box following Trevan Sanusi's lofted cross but his resulting effort was hammered wide of the target.

In the 32nd minute, Newcastle took the lead through Parkinson, the 19-year-old's seventh goal of the 2024/25 season at second-string level. After Targett delivered an inviting in-swinging cross from the left flank, Parkinson was on hand to turn the ball into the net inside the penalty area.

Newcastle completed an assured first-half display although Palace forward, Jesse Derry went close to levelling for the visitors as the teenager's free-kick curled narrowly wide of the left-hand post.

United's second-string pushed for a second goal before the half-time whistle as Leo Shahar, who captained England at under-18 level whilst on international duty earlier this month, drilled an effort from the edge of the box over the crossbar following a neat counter-attack involving Turner-Cooke and Emerson.

Targett almost turned from provider to goalscorer shortly after the restart, with Turner-Cooke's cross from the left wing turned into the left-back's path by Palace defender Joe Sheridan but saw his first-time effort, lacking power, held by Moulden.

Parkinson went close to doubling his and United's tally after racing onto Miley's delightful pass from inside his own half but, after evading the challenge of Eagles skipper Sean Grehan, drilled a low effort wide of the target.

Derry almost drew the South London outfit on level terms after collecting the ball on the edge of the box but his fierce low effort was directly inches wide of the left-hand post.

Sanusi, who joined the Magpies from hometown club Birmingham City in the summer of 2023, went close to netting his first goal of the season at under-21 level as the tricky winger picked the ball up from distance and, after advancing into the box, saw a low deflected shot fly past the far left-hand post.

The 17-year-old forward, a representative of England at under-18 level, went close minutes later after racing onto Turner-Cooke's impressive flicked pass but his powerful low effort was parried by Moulden before the loose ball was hooked clear from the box.

Alfie Harrison, introduced from the bench, went close to netting Newcastle's second goal of the night as the Keighley-born teenager's fierce drive from the edge of the box was impressively tipped onto the post by Moulden before Sanusi's low cross from the byline was turned out for a corner.

The promising youngster, who celebrated his 19th birthday yesterday, drove another teasing effort from distance over the bar in stoppage-time but the missed attempt would not prove costly as Diarmuid O'Carroll's side moved into sixth place of the 26-team division.

Newcastle United Under-21s: Aidan Harris, Leo Shahar, Charlie McArthur (c), Alex Murphy (Cathal Heffernan 60), Matt Targett (Dylan Charlton 60), Travis Hernes, Lewis Miley (Alfie Harrison 79), Jay Turner-Cooke, Trevan Sanusi, Johnny Emerson (Josh Donaldson 79), Ben Parkinson.

Subs not used: Will Anderson.