Journalist Lee Ryder has claimed that the yellow card for Newcastle United assistant Jason Tindall proves how the club are using every advantage to push for the Champions League.

What's the word?

Crystal Palace played host to the Magpies at Selhurst Park on Saturday but both teams failed to score in what ended up being a goalless draw.

Despite the dropped points, Eddie Howe's men are still going strong in the Premier League and sit inside the top four off the back of a 15-game unbeaten streak in the division.

While the club certainly have big ambitions under their new owners, nobody would have predicted Newcastle to be performing so well at this point in time and it seems as though the coaching staff and all the squad are desperate to keep the momentum by any means necessary.

This was the point Ryder made in an article for ChronicleLive, when he wrote: "Jason Tindall caution sums up how focused Newcastle are in their Champions League chase.

"In recent games substitute Jamaal Lascelles has ended up picking up two yellow cards in a role of unused substitute against Chelsea and Arsenal. This isn't a lack of discipline, but merely using the rules - by fair means and foul - to the advantage of the black and white cause.

"Howe's assistant Tindall was the latest to be booked after the referee deemed him throwing a ball onto the field for time wasting. With Palace trying to break it was the right thing to do and helped Newcastle avoid defeat."

Committed to the cause

It certainly seem as though the Newcastle assistant is perfectly happy to rile up the opposition if it helps his side get even a marginal advantage.

For example, against Arsenal, Tindall similarly threw the ball back onto the pitch instead of giving in to an opposition player. After that game, The Times' Martin Hardy wrote about how these tactics are reminiscent of the "Diego Simeone-style dark arts" seen in Spain with Atletico Madrid.

No doubt, rival teams will be annoyed at such antics but those at Newcastle will know that they have a rare opportunity to play Champions League football next term. With that in mind, you can expect them to fight for that success using any tactics – whether they are in the rule book or not.