Premier League Review – Sunderland 2-2 Crystal Palace

Match Facts

• Date – 1st March 2016
• Venue – Stadium of Light
• Attendance – 39,795
• Referee – Anthony Taylor
• Bookings – Rodwell, Dann
• Goals – N’Doye (36), Wickham (61, 67), Borini (90)
• Star Eagle – Connor Wickham (8.5)

Match Review

There was no denying that this was a big game for both teams in the build up to kick off but in particular, the Eagles were desperate to get themselves out of a dreadful run of form.

Boss Alan Pardew was keen in his press conference for players, staff and himself to ‘pull their finger out’ as Palace head into the final eleven games of the Premier League season to do what they need to do.

He opted to make some changes following the defeat at West Bromwich Albion at the weekend with Yannick Bolasie making his long awaited return to the starting line up as well as Mile Jedinak in for Emmanuel Adebayor and Joe Ledley.

The first half showing was markedly better than that at the weekend but it was all too familiar story at half time, even if it had an element of luck about it. The shot that looked to be going wide by N’Doye took a wicked deflection off Scott Dann which diverted it past Wayne Hennessey and into the net.

Palace did have the better of the first half with Wilfried Zaha and Yannick Bolasie both causing problems out wide. The first effort on goal was a free kick from Yohan Cabaye, finding Damien Delaney whose header was saved by Sunderland goalkeeper Vitor Mannone.

Midfielder Jack Rodwell received a booking for a cynical challenge on Zaha, the most fouled player in the Premier League while Jordon Mutch put the ball into the side netting after a good team move. Arguably the best chance fell to Dann with a header that the keeper managed to tip over.

The hosts did have their chances before the goal but were more than happy to go into the break a goal up.

It took a little longer than at the weekend to get a goal back but it was that man again, Connor Wickham. He received the ball from Bolasie and hit a shot that went in off the far post. Palace deservedly level but it got better in a matter of minutes.

Another Cabaye corner was met by Dann who nodded down to Wickham. The former Black Cat needed no second invitation to blast the ball into the back of the net turning the game on its head and give Palace the lead. The Stadium of Light was stunned into silence.

In what was a big moment in the game, Jordon Mutch clashed heads with Lee Cattermole who was replaced by striker Fabio Borini. It was the former Liverpool player that grabbed the equaliser at the death from what was a very acute angle but the power of the shot and perhaps an element of surprise saw it fly past Hennessey.

Palace were creeping deeper and deeper defensively in an effort to see out the final minutes but it just was not to be and the Eagles had to be content with a point even if it felt like a loss.

TEB Verdict

Most would have taken a point before kick off from this long trip North but it ended up being so disappointing to not return to South London with all three which would have been a real boost for this struggling side. The big plus is that there are goals in this team thanks to Wickham who was excellent against his former side so maybe, just maybe the tide is starting to turn.

Player Ratings (courtesy of Who Scored)

• Wayne Hennessey (6.3) – No chance with the opener but should have done better with the equaliser. Time for a change?
• Joel Ward (6.6) – Still struggling to adapt to the inherited left back slot which is perhaps more to do with the out of sorts defensive unit at the moment.
• Scott Dann (6.6) – Says a lot when even our beloved ZiDann is struggling in a defence that is looking vunerable.
• Damien Delaney (6.8) – Many will not enjoy reading this but we are starting to see the need to find a new centre back for next season.
• Martin Kelly (6.8) – Solid enough but still cannot help but think he would be better off in the centre with his lack of agility at full back.
• Mile Jedinak (6.3) – Not a great performance from the big Aussie as the game passed him by as his lack of pace really showed.
• Yohan Cabaye (7.1) – The quality is undoubtedly there but question marks about his appetite for the fight at the moment and fitness. Replaced by Joe Ledley (6.2) on 73 minutes in an effort to shore up the midfield.
• Jordon Mutch (6.9) – Put in another good shift in the midfield covering an awful lot of ground in the process.
• Wilfried Zaha (7.8) – Pre-game doubts about his fitness but an excellent showing out wide.
• Yannick Bolasie (7.2) – Long awaited return to the starting line up and showed just what we have missed without two wingers doing the business. Faded late on due to fitness and replaced by Bakary Sako (6.0) on 77 minutes who was another welcome return from injury but rarely had a chance offensively.
• Connor Wickham (8.5) – Up against his former team and responded to the treatment by the home fans scoring a brace in a good all round performance. Replaced by Emmanuel Adebayor (5.9) on 84 minutes who really should have done better defending in his short time on the pitch.

Unused substitutes – Alex McCarthy, Adrian Mariappa, Chung-yong Lee, Dwight Gayle

Match Statistics

The Who Scored man of the match was in form Palace striker Connor Wickham (8.5) after he scored his second brace in as many games. Five players (Rodwell, N’Doye, Defoe, Zaha, Wickham) made the most shots (3) while three (Kelly, Mutch, Zaha) players shared the most tackles (3). Wilfried Zaha (7) had the most dribbles.

• Team rating: 6.86 – 6.78
• Total shots: 17 – 13
• Shots on target:
• Possession: 52.9% – 47.1%
• Pass success: 78% – 65%
• Dribbles: 8 – 9
• Aerials won: 20 – 19
• Tackles: 14 – 13
• Corners: 4 – 5
• Dispossessed: 9 – 9

Premier League Table (courtesy Premier League)