Crystal Palace picked up only their third win at Selhurst Park since October on Saturday against Queens Park Rangers, a win that pushed the Eagles closer to the top half of the table and the opposition closer to the relegation zone that we all want to keep clear of at this period of the season.
Every game has its lessons and the Premier League lunchtime kick-off in South London yesterday is no exception to that rule, here are five lessons we learned against Chris Ramsey’s QPR:
QPR Couldn’t Deal with the Havoc
We all know what Wilfried Zaha and Yannick Bolasie are capable of on their day and against QPR both of the players constantly asked questions of the full-backs who struggled with the pair throughout the afternoon, in particular, Zaha who scored the Eagles’ opener just after the 20 minute mark.
The duo completed 71% of their passes throughout the afternoon and constantly put threatening balls into the QPR box alongside their threatening style of play that sees both Zaha and Bolasie taking on defenders, on the edge of the box, in an attempt to poke balls through to on-running attacking players in the area.
All three of Palace’s goals were created by the wingers with the DR Congo international providing the lion share of assists that were both crosses from the left wing, finding his partner Zaha and midfielder James McArthur in the area within a 20 minute period to create the first two goals. The aforementioned winger, Zaha, created the third and final goal of the game two minutes after the second by spotting Ward making a run towards the box, who decided to take a chance and surprisingly to all onlookers finding the back of the net.
Speaking after the game, Queens Park Rangers manager Chris Ramsey said: “On their given day, they can create havoc and we knew that before and we didn’t cope with it.
“But really, we only didn’t cope with it twice, because let’s be honest it wasn’t a tide of crosses coming in and problems.”
Michael Owen also mentioned the duo in his commentary, saying that Zaha and Bolasie are “two of the better wingers in the Premier League.”
Palace are Slowly Climbing Up the Injury Table
In the past month, Crystal Palace have been without a number of players due to injury and after Saturday’s game against Queens Park Rangers, it looks like that list might start to grow just a little bit more.
After scoring the opening goal, Wilfried Zaha collided with Jason Puncheon on one of the posts that both players went sliding into after attempting to get to Bolasie’s cross that led to the opener for Alan Pardew’s side. Both players required lengthy treatment with medical staff from both sides rushing onto the pitch alongside a number of medical professionals who looked concerned once the incident happened; the worst fears slowly drifted away as both players picked themselves up from the ground – Puncheon getting off the ground first after limited treatment.
Neither Zaha or Puncheon made the full 90 minutes with both players coming off with injuries shortly after one another. Puncheon struggled off the pitch, at the aid of physio Alex Manos aiding him to the touchline before his fellow teammate who had been struggling throughout the game followed. The former left Selhurst Park on crutches and is likely to miss Saturday’s Palace on Tour Day match at Stoke City whereas Zaha is likely to be out of full training for a couple of days.
For the time being, the duo join Lee Chung-Yong, Jordon Mutch, Fraizer Campbell, Mourane Chamakh, Jerome Thomas & Jonny Williams on the injury table at Palace with Zaha and Chamakh being the most likely to feature on the weekend.
Pardew’s Trust in Murray is Paying Off
There are times when you sit there looking at the starting line-up and think, why is this player still playing football for us? What use is he for the team? That’s one question you think would be related to Glenn Murray in the Premier League but on Saturday, he proved why he is worthy of the starting line-up with the current shape of the team as he proved any doubters wrong by putting in a committed performance – creating chances, winning fouls and holding up the ball.
Scoring 30 goals in the Championship means nothing in the top flight of English football with the the tempo of attacks being greater and the quality of defenders also quality beyond that in the Football League but nonetheless, under Alan Pardew with the chance he has been given, Murray has performed admirably – is he a player to keep an eye on for the remainder of the season?
We Didn’t Miss Jedinak
On a number of occasions in the past few months, the Eagles have been without their captain and to no significance. The partnership of James McArthur and Joe Ledley has worked a treat in all of those games in which the skipper has been missing, being able to carry out the same duties as their fellow teammate; intercepting and clearing balls as well as blocking shots towards goal.
A number of questions have been raised over recent games whether or not Mile Jedinak is a Alan Pardew player as under his management, the player has been ineffective compared to those games in previous managerial tenures and with the current partnership looking strong whilst Jedinak is out with a suspension, questions will continue to be asked whether he is a first choice midfielder.
You Couldn’t Stop It
Matty Phillips scored what is undeniably the best consolation goal in Premier League history at Selhurst Park on Saturday and to be quite honest, I don’t think anyone believes it happened.
Winning the ball on the half way line, the 24-year-old winger began what looked like a solo run towards goal which would eventually be stopped by the shear amount of defenders waiting for his attack but for some reason once he reached the 45 yard mark he decided he was going to have a shot; five yards later, he did – nobody thought he was going to do that and at this point, everyone was thinking – that’s a waste of an attack, it’s going over. Oh no.
The ball had different ideas, as after the shot was struck with a great amount of venom and precision used only by a missile system, the ball flew over the top of an out-stretching Speroni and into the back of the net – stunning every fan at the ground but at the same time receiving plaudits from both sets of supporters.
You will not see another goal like that for a long time coming, cherish it.
