Palace got
off the mark in the league on Saturday finally recording their first win of the
season at home to Sheffield Wednesday, thanks to a brace from Glenn Murray on
his return from injury. The big difference came with the home debut of ex
Bristol City winger Yannick Bolassi who connected wonderfully in terms of an understanding
with Wilf Zaha. Indeed management worked wonders with Zaha to keep him at the
club by the end of the transfer window. It took a mere thirty seconds for Glenn
Murray to slot home a Bolassi cross from the right who himself was played in by
another influential Brazilian home debutant Andre Moritz. The instant
understanding struck up between Zaha, Bolassi and Moritz is an exciting
prospect for Crystal Palace going forward in terms of attacking football.
Other useful
contributions included the home debuts of defender Darcy Blake as well as
Damian Delaney signed as a free agent on deadline day following his release by
Ipswich Town. Another useful impact substitute was striker David Goodwillie
signed from Blackburn Rovers at the same time and he played the support role to
Murray cleverly as a second half replacement for Moritz. The link up play
between Wilf Zaha and Yannick Bolassi illustrated a fantastic understanding
that cut through Wednesday at will, shown by the goal scored after just thirty
seconds when Murray slotted home what is thought to be the fastest goal ever
scored at Selhurst Park. The arrival of Darcy Blake and Damian Delaney
solidified Palace’s defence and Julian Speroni made two or three excellent
saves to rescue the team when the backline was breached, illustrating a return
to form.
This
appeared a more stable Palace performance with some of Freedman’s transfer
window signings showing early signs of promise in terms of moulding together
into a strong unit. The half time substitution of Blake who was replaced by
Dean Moxey illustrated some of the old defensive frailties in the Palace
backline were returning. On 55 minutes Wednesday bundled in an equaliser after
Antonio connected with a corner. Following this Freedman responded with
positive changes and the introductions of Jonathan Williams and Palace’s new
number nine, until January at least, David Goodwillie. This was done with the
intention of pressing Wednesday back to re-establish the lead that was so
desperately needed.
What
followed was one of the strangest incidents of a referee losing control of a
game I have ever seen. I maintain the episode nearly worked against Palace with
the score at 1 – 1, and I agree with Wednesday boss Dave Jones it changed the
atmosphere in the stadium and in the crowd and ultimately cost Wednesday
dearly. Zaha’s trickery in the box led
to the referee awarding a penalty kick. Straightforward enough until Chris
Kirkland the Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper frogmarched a delegation of
diplomats from Sheffield, namely his defence to the linesman dragging the
referee with them. The Wednesday backline harangued the officials forcing them
into a mind change that removed the offer of a penalty to Palace and somehow
led to a Wednesday free kick. When this decision was explained to Palace
representatives chaos ensued for about five minutes with ugly scenes akin to a
bear pit on and off the field that illustrated the referee had lost control.
Fortunately
this incident did not ultimately influence the result as on the field Palace
kept their nerve and it did not affect the attacking flow of the game as
Freedman’s side remained offensively dominant. On 83 minutes the breakthrough
came. Played through by the superb seventeen year old pocket rocket Jonny
Williams, Zaha skimmed his marker and crossed for Murray to superbly convert
the centre and smash the ball past the now pantomime villain Kirkland into the
back of the Sheffield Wednesday net. Palace won the match 2 – 1 deservedly
getting their first three points of the season ending Dave Jones’s eighteen
match unbeaten start as Wednesday boss in the process.
It was seen
as a result to reward fan loyalty by Palace boss Freedman, rather than as a
sign of relief at ending a poor run of form. The manager now faces the
international break with Palace in a healthier state. The first points of the
season are on the board and the squad is in place and the task that lies ahead
for the team is now clear. The management now have the international break to
put across their ideas and push up the league.
Having seen
games away in Bristol, Middlesbrough, and Preston without reward prior to the
international break the Palace faithful no doubt felt the reward of victory
against Wednesday at the weekend. Now enjoyment can be taken from watching England
under Hodgson in the World Cup Qualifiers with relief points are on the board.
Many fans may even be excited by the prospects of new signings Moritz, Bolassi
and co linking up with Zaha to give Charlton the run around at the Valley on
Friday week. Indeed that match televised on Sky is the first of this seasons
highly anticipated South London Derbies. No better time for Palace's season to truely get started.
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