A 1-1 draw from the first-leg means it is all to play for between Crystal Palace and Zrinjski Mostar in their Europa Conference League play-off. The Eagles were heavy favourites ahead of that game and were expected to take a lead on aggregate in Bosnia last Thursday.
That looked to be the case when Ismaila Sarr fired home an impressive opener in the 43rd minute. It was just what Oliver Glasner needed amid a tumultuous period for the club and the manager.
What the Austrian didn’t need was Adam Wharton to slip up and get caught in possession 10 minutes into the second half. The hosts countered, and Karlo Abramovic scored a 55th-minute equaliser.
The visiting supporters were heard chanting for Glasner to be sacked during a dismal night at Bijeli Brijeg Stadium. Their team bounced back with a 1-0 win over 10-man Wolverhampton Wanderers on the weekend to help alleviate some of the pressure on their FA Cup-winning coach.
Crystal Palace team news
An injury crisis means Glasner will be without four first-team stars on Thursday night. Cheick Doucoure and Jean-Philippe Mateta are both sidelined with knee problems and missed the first-leg.
Mateta’s Palace future is in doubt after failing a medical ahead of a proposed move to AC Milan in January. The French striker doesn’t require surgery but it could take one or two weeks before he’s available again.
Eddie Nketiah and Jefferson Lerma were also absent in the draw in Bosnia last week. Nketiah is nursing a thigh problem, while Lerma has been dealing with a hamstring issue.
Glasner didn’t include Christantus Uche in his squad for the Conference League amid a disappointing loan spell at Selhurst Park. Given the growing injury list, he perhaps should have been kept in mind, especially with a gruelling fixture list on the horizon.
Maxence Lacroix came off in the second half in the first leg after complaining to Glasner about an adductor issue. The French defender is a doubt for the second leg, which is a nuisance given his importance.
Expected XI
Glasner went with a back three of Jaydee Canvot, Chris Richards and Chadi Riad for the win over Wolves. This was despite concerns about Riad’s game time, especially given that the Moroccan is fasting.
Riad came off for Evann Guessand in the 72nd minute, and it was the Aston Villa loanee who scored the winner in a 1-0 win. The Austrian could decide to tinker with his backline with Riad’s situation in mind.
Wharton hasn’t enjoyed the best of months amid performances that have reportedly ‘concerned’ the club. The English midfielder will undoubtedly start at Selhurst Park alongside Daichi Kamada, who is set to leave with Glasner at the end of the season.
It’s been a terrible start to life with the Eagles for Brennan Johnson following his £35m arrival from Tottenham Hotspur last month. The Welsh attacker started the draw against Zrinjski but failed to impress.
Glasner might choose to go with Yeremy Pino instead of Johnson, as he did for the win against Wolves. Jorgen Strand Larsen will continue to lead the line with Sarr on the right.
Crystal Palace likely lineup: Henderson; Canvot, Richards, Riad; Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Sosa; Pino, Sarr; Strand Larsen
Prediction
Palace’s hopes of a successful season rest on the Conference League, and surely they have enough to progress to the last 16. The disappointment of last week’s draw stemmed from the Eagles not making the most of their chances in front of goal.
Glasner’s men found the target on seven occasions but only Sarr was able to find the back of the net. Wharton went close with a fine effort that hit the crossbar.
The Wolves win should give the team a boost and the confidence to go and beat the Bosnians on their home turf. It might not be pretty, but that’s been the case throughout the season.
A Strand Larsen double and a Pino strike book the South Londoners a place in the knockout rounds. They might be given a scare at some stage but the European adventure continues.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 3-1 Zrinjski Mostar
