The festive
period of football came to an end at Selhurst Park on New Year’s Day with
Palace recording their first victory since Brighton on December 1st.
Palace’s Brazilian midfielder Andre Moritz lit up the game with two magical
free kicks. The first on thirty one minutes capitalised on half an hour of
continuous pressure to deservedly take the lead. Defeat meant Wolves have now
only won three times in sixteen matches as Palace dominated proceedings to
leave a poor Wolves side in crisis. The Wolves midfielder David Davis crashed a
shot off the bar early, but for long periods Ramage and Gabbidon had the
measure of the Wanderers attack.
Five minutes
before the break Palace got comfortable. Zaha who looked good all game slid a
ball into Yannick Bolasie’s path in the box and he slotted the ball past Ikeme rolling the ball into the net for 2 – 0. Danny Gabbidon who
went off injured in the second half started the attack that led to the goal.
Exploiting yards of space left by Wanderers attackers, he was able to play the
ball unchallenged through the midfield and up to Zaha who set up the goal. The
space Palace had available to them to create chances illustrates the problems
Wolverhampton Wanderers are currently facing. Wolves were very poor opposition.
Stale Solbakken does not seem capable of getting the best out of what on paper
seems like a talented squad. So in their own way Wolves were perfect opponents
for Palace to get back to winning ways against.
Zaha
combined brilliantly with Moritz and Bolasie to keep himself at the centre of
proceedings keeping a high tempo to Palace’s attacks. He was in the middle of
everything Palace did creatively as he zipped from one side of the wing to the
other. Dikgacoi and Jedinak dominated and controlled midfield as Palace looked
like a team, moving up to third with a convincing victory. If Zaha does move on
in this January transfer window it would be disappointing but there is little
doubt he is ready for the Premier League and Palace have a great chance of
playing there if he does stay. There are other players that make Palace look
good through the spine of the team from Speroni in goal to Murray up front that
gives a playing structure to create chances around.
Yannick
Bolasie and midfielder Andre Moritz are the creative alternatives to Wilfried
Zaha that currently complement him. The introduction of Jonny Williams as he
returns from injury is another positive. The creativity of Moritz’s set pieces
offers a dimension to the Palace attack that they have not been able to fully
utilise since the departure of Darren Ambrose. Despite getting a consolation
goal through Ebanks-Blake on seventy five minutes, Palace wrapped up a 3 – 1 victory
thanks to a second Moritz free kick on fifty two minutes. His ability from free
kicks comes from his Brazilian roots but his ability to find both corners means
alongside Jedinaks' power Palace now have a potent set piece weapon once again.
Palace can now exploit the trickery of the likes of Bolasie, Zaha, and Williams
who win free kicks to maximum effect.
A ten day
break from the league now follows for the FA Cup and an exciting clash against
a traditionally physical side in Stoke City. In a good position in the league
we find ourselves third in the Championship tucked in securely in the Playoffs
looking nicely positioned for automatic promotion. Just two points behind Hull
City the next month is likely to be a test of the board's immediate ambitions
and how they are likely to go about achieving them.
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