With immense thanks to a late Patrick van Aanholt late goal, Crystal Palace were the beneficiaries of a shock 2-1 win at Old Trafford last Saturday. The victory against Manchester United was historic; the match saw the first ever win for the Eagles at Old Trafford in the history of the modern Premier League.
Such a laudable feat was no coincidence; stalwart defending, glorious goalkeeping and a cool Jordan Ayew finish were among the other crowning moments during the game. Whilst pundits, fans and coaching staff alike unpack the positives and negatives to gnaw on from the game, an altogether juicier morsel of analysis remains largely untouched.
Palace had an unsung defensive hero amid the tense affair – and that man was Senegalese international Cheikhou Kouyate.
Primarily a defensive or holding midfielder, Kouyate proved vital in ensuring that United’s largely young, promising and prolific attackers were blunted in their attempted to spear the mighty Eagles. He occasionally did give the ball away cheaply but made crucial recoveries to ensure Palace were not on the back foot for any prolonged periods. His phenomenal work rate ensured world-class talents like Paul Pogba were thwarted in their build-up play, and his physicality came to the fore.
And with Cheikhou rested on the bench during Palace’s penalty defeat to Colchester on Tuesday, there is every chance he could be in contention to start against Aston Villa at SE25 in the Premier League, in the last Palace match day of August. With such an impressive performance, Palace will be missing out on a hard-working rock in midfield, should the ‘Seneagle’ fail to start.
His ability to intercept and marshal the opposition made him an invaluable asset. In gaining such a rare start for the Eagles, Kouyate repaid the clear faith bestowed unto him. Can he replicate this form, however? If last week’s performance is anything to go by, it is a fine testament to his true abilities.
