Everton 1 – 1 Crystal Palace

A hard fought draw on Monday night saw Everton and Palace draw 1 – 1. In the first half Palace were under pressure as Lukaku hit the post and Deulofeu hit the Crossbar. Palace went close when Conner Wickam drew a save out of Tim Howard. Palace were set up defensively in order to frustrate Everton, while Palace aimed to push forward on the counter attack. Yannick Bolasie broke down the left to again force a marvellous save from Howard which meant Bolasie was again denied on the break.

On 75 minutes Palace took the lead when Scott Dann headed home from a corner. Five minutes later Romelu Lukaku scored an equaliser to ensure Everton secured a point. This was Lukaku’s fiftieth goal in one hundred matches for Everton and ensured the spoils were shared. Palace moved to the top six as most of the action happened in the last quarter of the game.

Palace have drawn Southampton in the 3^rd round of the FA Cup and play Southampton again also at Selhurst Park next Saturday. With Palace moving closer to the European places exciting times lay ahead off a good return from a satisfactory evening. 

Crystal Palace 5 – 1 Newcastle United

A five star performance from Crystal Palace saw the Eagles slam five goals past a hapless Newcastle United. Newcastle took the lead via Papiss Cisse. Palace equalised via McCarthur and goals from Bolasie, Zaha, Bolasie, and McCarthur again completed the rout. The result was made all the more special given it took Palace back up the league to sixth place.

A loud crowd saw Palace manage to climb the league employing counter attacking football through speedy wing play. The result was made all the more sweeter for Pardew given he managed the Magpies from 2010 – 2015. The chaotic position of Newcastle United is summed up by manager Steve Maclaren’s assertion the Magpies are in a relegation fight. As for Pardew things could not be rosier securing his 100^th win as a premier League manager, winning 53 points since arriving at Crystal Palace compared to just twenty three points at Newcastle United in the same period.

 Palace are playing an attractive brand of football and given the financial rewards then the hard days of 2000 and 2010.  Indeed the eagles are in their best position table wise since the heady old days of 1989 – 1994 under Steve Coppell. Good performances on the field and good finances off it mean they are mean they are an attractive proposition for foreign investment hence interest US sports Franchise holder Josh Harris.

Palace now travel confidently to Everton next Monday with flair side Southampton under Dutchman Ronald Koeman the following Saturday.

   

Crystal Palace 0 – 1 Sunderland

A goal from Jermain Defoe, his sixth in eight matches against Palace earned victory for a doggered workman like Sunderland side with a dull steel under Sam Allardyce. The goal came from a mistake from palace centre back Scott Dann with ten minutes remaining allowing Sunderland to defeat Palace by a goal to nil. The result leaves Palace in tenth place in the League while Sunderland remain in the bottom three.

Few people would have expected such a turgid game with Palace coming into it off the back of a quality performance against Liverpool but would have been disappointed given the run of form that had taken them to sixth in the league despite an average start to the campaign. Sunderland under new manager Sam Allardyce have benefited from his direct approach tactically based on sports science that served him so well at Bolton, Blackburn and West Ham.

Not many people would have taken the challenge of Sunderland especially in their current predicament but with Jermaine Defoe and Fletcher upfront and the bravery of Watmore and Lens gave Sunderland the edge in a tight and turgid affair.

Palace boss Alan Pardew although he must feel disappointed by his teams’ lack of finishing prowess must understand his clubs ability to bounce back as his side face another uphill battle against Newcastle on Saturday. 

Liverpool 1 – 2 Crystal Palace

Goals from Yannick Bolasie and Scott Dann meant Palace created waves through the divisions to produce quality performances to allow Palace to prosper with some truly quality football to allow the eagles to sore to the dizzy heights of eighth their highest placing since 1991 when Pardew himself ruled the roost in the Palace defence.

Many eagles fans travelled on mass to Anfield and the din was superb even if Pardew’s touchline with newly appointed Jurgen Klopp lending itself very nicely to festive Pantomime. Liverpool seemed to have benefited from Klopps dose of German realism combined with enthusiasm to be a similar effect as Joachim Lowe on Germany or Jurgen Klinsmann on Tottenham or America National Team. 

So Palace go into the international break with the likes of Bolasie Ledley Henessey Delaney and Cabaye all on duty for their perspective nations hopefully they will remain injury free and return to continue their good form in the run up to Christmas. 

Crystal Palace 0 – 0 Manchester United

A turgid game under cloud saw United register a third consecutive 0 – 0 draw with Palace putting an end to two consecutive defeats. Palace played well with Dann and Gayle going close forcing a good save from David de Gae. Antony Marceau played on the wing and gave Kelly a difficult time. Indeed Palace went close on a number of occasions.

Manchester United played a dull tacanacio style of play in the Italian tradition of play which was popular in Italy in 1990. However in modern Football the tactics do not fit in with the modern game and basically Louis Van Gaal has come under criticism for not playing expansively with many supporters criticising the tactic because they see it as dull.

Indeed Palace made a game of it yet despite the odd chance Palace did not quite create enough and Palace move on to face Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp next weekend on Sunday knowing they will face a tough battle to gain anything yet given the tough history of the fixture from 9 – 0 to 4 -3 it is likely anything can happen.

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.