This was another day to forget for Steve Bruce's Magpies, who, at this stage, are lucky they carried their fair share of fortune in the first half of the campaign, as their luck has well and truly run out now.
How did our writer Miles Starforth score the contest from a player performance perspective? Here’s his ratings from the 1-0 Crystal Palace loss...
5. Florian Lejeune - 6
Recalled to the starting XI and competed well for much of the game. Photo: Richard Heathcote
6. Matt Ritchie - 5
Booed by home fans for his previous association with their rivals Swindon, conceded free-kick for Oxford’s first goal. Photo: Ian MacNicol
7. Nabil Bentaleb - 6
Neat and tidy on the ball for most of the game, looked sharper, fitter. Photo: Richard Heathcote
8. Matty Longstaff - 6
Got around the pitch and snapped into a series of tackles, didn’t stop running for 120 minutes. Photo: Catherine Ivill