Tony Pulis’s
record of never having been relegated in his twenty one year managerial career
looks to be in danger as he tries to steer Palace to Premier League survival. A
first half Gary Hooper goal gave Norwich all three points sealing this tight
encounter at Carrow Road. Norwich dominated the early exchanges and Johan
Elmander hit the crossbar from the impressive Nathan Redmond’s free kick, and
on half an hour Norwich made their pressure count when ex Celtic striker Gary
Hooper scored with a low shot converting Wes Hoolihan’s cross.
Palace could
have equalised soon after going behind but Norwich defender Olsson managed to
get the slightest deflection on a Barry Bannan shot to divert it onto the
crossbar. Palace continued to pressurise after the break in what was a tightly
fought, close win for Norwich. It put the two sides level historically on forty
three wins each and seventeen draws in a fixture that has been contested on one
hundred and three occasions.
In the
second half Palace was nearly level when Dean Moxey produced a dangerous low
cross that was very nearly sliced into his own net by Canneries defender
Sebastian Bassong. Later in the second half Palace freshened up the attack with
Gayle replacing Chemakh, Williams replacing Bannan, and Kebe replacing
Puncheon. The substitutions nearly had the desired effect as Williams combined
well with KG Dikgacoi and Gayle laid the ball off to Kebe who shot narrowly
wide from eighteen yards in the closing stages.
Tony Pulis
was left reflecting on missed opportunities that could have led to a draw or
better as Norwich shaded a 1 – 0 victory in what was a tight and scrappy game
at the bottom of the Premier League. Pulis’s task is now all the clearer going
into a home game against West Ham Utd on Tuesday night. Palace will need to
take their chances if they want to take anything out of the match points wise,
but fortunately all is not lost thanks to the three points picked up at Hull
last week. Yet Crystal Palace’s relegation threatened black hole will be a lot
deeper if they don’t pick up the home points available from the next two
fixtures against West Ham Utd on Tuesday and Cardiff City on Saturday.
Tony Pulis
remains upbeat about Palace’s chances. Possession was again good for long
spells against Norwich Palace simply lacked the experience to take their
chances. That is something Pulis will try to alter in the January transfer window
hopefully adding some killer instinct and experience to get Palace over the
line. Regardless of what magic Pulis finds in January the key objective of
keeping Palace in the Premier League remains in December an elusive prize.
