Leicester City 1 – 0 Crystal Palace

Leicester City ended Palace’s unbeaten run with a goal from Jamie Vardy on the hour as Palace put in a lacklustre performance to allow Leicester to shine which meant Palace’s recent poor performance has allowed the eagles to play in a very controlled fashion allowing the team via Bolasie and Zaha to create a labyrinth for the Palace to get through. 

A good start to the season was ended by a Leicester side that essentially meant Palace had a kind of ability to create Waves and do a lot of work aimed at supporting their rollercoaster style of play. The likes of Yohan Cabaye and Mile Jedinak caused great difficulty through pressing the Leicester defense which has led many in south London to conclude all things could be possible in South London as all things seemed normal for Palace but their good run of form has been slowed by determined performances from the foxes and West Ham has seen palace being pulled back from a good start.

Indeed the Eagles now in their third year in the Premier League have created some history first under Pulis then under Pardew has meant Palace still have a long way to go if they want to revive highs of previous seasons.

Crystal Palace 1 – 3 West Ham United

And so it happened Palace was defeated 1 – 3 at West Ham United in a match that saw Dwight Gayle see red in a game where Palace were outclassed by Cabaye from the penalty spot on twenty five minutes and

Palace try and immediately bounce back from disappointment of defeat. goals by Jenkinson on 22 minutes, Lanzini on eighty eight minutes and Dimitry Payet on 90 +4 produced a convincing result for the hammers and moved them up to third in the league. Gayle who saw red for two cautions got on the wrong side of Clattenberg first for a foul on Payet then for a nudge on goalkeeper Adrian.

Despite only managing four shots in the entire game West Ham scored three times. Palace had their opportunities and Cabaye levelled from the spot. Yet in the second half Palace were broken down as first Lanzini then Payat took advantage of Palace being a man light.

Pardew refused to attribute blame for the red card yet there can be no doubt with strikers like Wickam, Bamford and Sako in the wings Gayle may pay with his selection. Indeed West Ham now up to third have enjoyed a massive cash boost ahead of their move to the Olympic Stadium. A controlled performance by the Hammers meant West Ham put in a tip top performance with the likes of Bolasie and Zaha being well marshalled by the West Ham defence.

Next on the agenda for Palace a tricky away day at on form Leicester city a stern test as Palace try to bounce back immediately from this disappointing defeat.

Crystal Palace 1 – 0 Watford

A goal from Yohan Cabaye from the penalty spot on seventy four minutes meant Palace won 1 – 0 causing great enjoyment and hilarity among palace fans on seventy four minutes meant Palace won

1 – 0 who created some chances caused by the two paces on the wings by Wilfried Zaha and 

Yannick Bolasie Papa Soure and Martin Kelly played magnificently on the wing back positions and Yohan Cabaye and Jason puncheon played very well in the midfield creating chances for palace to play well meaning vicarage road rocked to the sound of a palace victory 

Pardew’s tactics were spot on creating a wonderful sense of attacking excellence creating chances for palace to play well meaning vicarage road rocked to the sound of a palace victory pardew's tactics were spot on creating a wonderful sense of attacking excellence that meant the tactics were marvellous and the atmosphere was pumping to the brilliance of Pardew’s decision making allowing Palace to continue their impressive start to the season. 

Indeed Palace’s tactics were spot on allowing the team to advance further up the league producing some of the best football seen in a generation allowing Palace to create wonderful soccer memories and a great sense of enjoyment they flew up the league to fourth place creating a great sense of pride for Palace especially Wilfried Zaha who’s return from Manchester United has been magnificent given the difficulty he faced at the beginning of his ill-fated time at Manchester United which Led Palace to appreciate of having such a dynamic young striker at their Disposal.

The next team to face palace is West Bromwich Albion who are important as Tony Pulis returns to lead Palace back from the brink 

Tottenham 1 – 0 Crystal Palace: Son Shines for Spurs!

So Palace faced up to reality on Sunday as Tottenham Hotspurs controlled large swathes of the game against Palace as the eagles lacked a fulcrum upfront with Bolasie taking the role on in the absence of a recognised striker since Glenn Murrays sale and Conner Wickhams injury.

Tottenham’s goal came from Korean Son Hueng Min who has now scored four goals for Tottenham in 5 games Palace played very well and Cabaye hit the post twice. Indeed Palace’s performance was mediocre and lacklustre going forward as spurs made sure of the victory via collective attacking and Palace looked off the pace despite Pardew bringing on Frazier Campbell to give more bite to the Palace attack. 

Yet Tottenham controlled large parts of the game with Eric Lamela and substitution Erikson who came on for Chadli were very effective for spurs. A reality check for Crystal Palace due to a poor performance and the punters expecting Palace to make Europe definitely need a reality check as it is a long way off given the experience of other Premier league teams.

So we move on to a London Derby against Charlton which should be spicy. Then Palace travel to Vicarage road to play Watford.

Crystal Palace 0 – 1 Manchester City: City Tame Eagles in Tight Thriller!

An injury time winner from Manchester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho broke Palace hearts in the 90^th minute. A hot day created an intensely competitive and quite even match.  In the first half Palace attacked Manchester City with Zaha and Bolasie energetic on the wings, with Bakary Sako going close. Jesus Navas went close, taking the ball around Alex McCarthy before shooting into the side netting.

The match was a game of chess which City eventually won in a very painful fashion for Palace. Yet Palace went close first through Yannick Bolasie then via a McArthur header. Later on Dwight Gayle connected with a cross to beat Joe Hart but sent it narrowly wide. From the resulting goal kick  City went down the field and found the net via Nigerian Teenager Kelechi Ihenacho who made it 0 – 1 right at the end of the game. Sergio Aguero went off injured following a heavy tackle from James McArthur but the game was refereed in a fair fashion and passed off without incident.

Next up for Crystal Palace two London Derbies against Tottenham Hotspurs at White Hart Lane, then back to Selhurst to face Charlton Athletic under the lights in the third round of the League Cup.  

Crystal Palace 2 – 1 Aston Villa: Eagles Swoop on Villains.

A debut goal from Bakary Sako three minutes from the end set Palace up for a 2 – 1 home victory their first of the season. An energy sapping first half was slow paced due to a very hot day. Sako started in place of Bolasie who was missing for personal reasons. Pardew started with Zaha and Bolasie who was missing for personal reasons. 

Pardew started with Zaha and Murray up front whilst Aston Villa debutante Traore came on in the sixty ninth minute and helped villa get back in the game. Scott Dann put Palace ahead from a Puncheon corner on seventy one minutes. An earlier goal from substitute Dwight Gayle was disallowed when it hit James Macarthur who was in an offside position. Traore drove into the palace box to set up a cross which was deflected in by papa Cisse to draw the sides’ level.

Then came the debutantes moment as Bakary Sako picked up a pass from Scott Dann after Amavi gave the ball away on the edge of the box to allow Sako to drill home from the edge of the box to set up a 2 – 1 victory three minutes from time. Palace now play Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday night in the second round of the English League Cup.

Crystal Palace 1 – 2 Arsenal: Gunners Shoot down Eagles

Goals from Olivier Giroud and a Damian Delaney own goal fell either side of a crisp Joel Ward equaliser which meant Arsenal left Selhurst Park with a crucial first away win of the season.

The game was an even affair and palace was unlucky not to get a point from the game as debutant Conner Wickham struck the post whilst pace men Bolasie and Zaha looked useful whilst Francis Coquelin was lucky to avoid being sent off for persistant fouling yet ultimately the crisp build up play of Arsenal was too much. Debutant Yohan Cabaye linked up well with Jordan Mutch linked up together to create Crystal Palace’s best chances but in the end they fell short due to a lack of understanding moving forward.

A clinical Arsenal display was characterised by a superb scissor kick volley from Olivier Giroud meant South London hearts was broken whilst an own goal by Damian Delaney gave Arsenal the win cancelling out a Joel Ward equaliser