Palace Leave Hoops in Mire!

Goals from a reinvigorated Wilf Zaha, McCarther, and a first ever Palace goal from defender Joel Ward almost secures the Eagles safety, while leaving the hoops in distinct danger of the drop. Palace had to be on form as QPR are a much tougher outfit in the post Warnock/ Redknapp era. New Boss Chris Ramsey has a difficult job steering the Rangers away from the relegation zone. Palace took the lead when Zaha scored his eighth Premier League goal in nine games, to ensure the opportunity of moving Crystal Palace clear into mid table and closer to safety then they have ever been before. Matt Phillips did score a consolation goal for the hoops that Alan Pardew described as the best goal ever scored at Selhurst Park as he wacked it in from thirty yards.

It was a mere consolation for QPR as Ramsey tries desperately to avoid the drop since they came up through the playoffs last season. A stark contrast to when they were the top London club in the Premier League in 1995. A marker to how far they have dropped under poor ownership of Briatore and Fernandez. Zaha’s ability as a footballer cannot be questioned, it is the fact he could not look after his affairs in Manchester very well due to his age, naivety, and lack of proper support from a mentor. As Ferguson’s last signing he buckled under the weight of expectation and let the bright lights of Manchester alongside big money buckle his focus. Yet now he is back in London he is on familiar ground and can be a very important cog in Palace’s Premier League future.

His efforts at Palace alongside those of Jonny Williams have often gone under the radar yet from his first goal against Leicester as a Warnock fledgling to his last of spell one on the 22^nd December 2012 he will understand his value as one of the best strikers Palace will ever receive because he made South London truly loud and Proud.

The next game for Palace sees them take on Stoke City which will be a difficult encounter because they are well drilled under Mark Hughes and their supporters always make Stoke a raucous place to visit. It should be fun though as a well-balanced side under Pardew goes into the last ten matches of the campaign looking for the points to secure survival.