Match Facts
- Date – 15th may 2016
- Venue – St Mary’s Stadium
- Attendance – 31,313
- Referee – Michael Oliver
- Bookings – McArthur, Ward
- Goals – Mane (43), Pelle (61), Puncheon (64), Bertrand (75), Davis (87)
- Star Eagle – Jason Puncheon (7.5)
Match Review
For many this was perhaps a defeat worth taking ahead of the FA Cup Final as Southampton secured a much needed win in their quest for European football.
Eagles boss Alan Pardew mixed fringe with first team players as he brought in Julian Speroni, Adrian Mariappa, Jordon Mutch and Emmanuel Adebayor.
It was a decent first half showing from the Eagles with the best chance falling to Dwight Gayle after some good work by Adebayor but he put his effort straight at the keeper.
Just as the game was heading into the break all square, Sadio Mane scored what was a simple goal after a combination of errors by Damien Delaney and Julian Speroni. The headed clearance by Delaney went straight up in the air and his effort to protect Speroni only proceeded to block the record equalling stopper from getting enough on the ball. Mane needed no further invitation to loop the ball into an empty net.
It was not the return the thirty-seven year old Argentine had hoped for as he equalled the most appearances by a goalkeeper at the club held by John Jackson with 388.
The highlight of the game was the appearance of academy product Sullay KaiKai at half time in place of Jordon Mutch. The highly rated youngster has enjoyed two spells on loan at Shrewsbury Town this season, the second of which he was recalled from to feature for Palace in one of the last couple of games of the season. He showed glimpses of what we can expect from him in a Palace shirt if given the chance, good on the ball and direct.
A dream come true, thank you to @CPFC for handing me my premier league debut! Proud moment for me, my family and loved ones
— Sullay Kaikai (@SullayKaikai) May 15, 2016
The hosts soon doubled their lead with a header from Italian striker Graziano Pelle but even he looked long and hard at the referee after a clear push in the back of Adrian Mariappa but the goal was given.
Just three minutes later, former Saint Jason Puncheon grabbed a goal back with an terrific shot from just inside the area beating a fully stretched Fraser Forster in the Saints goal.
As it turned out, that was to be just a consolation for the Eagles as another dubious decision gave the home side a penalty. Mane running at pace was challenged by a combination of Pape Soare and Adrian Mariappa with the first contact taking place outside the area but momentum took the Senegalese striker into the box. The penalty was given and Ryan Bertrand stepped up to score past Speroni who was close to making a save.
In a game that was much closer that the score-line suggested, any chance of a Palace fight back ended with the third goal in two games for Northern Irish international midfielder Steven Davis.
A disappointing loss for a makeshift Palace line-up that in actual fact performed will against a side with European ambitions. In his post match press conference, Pardew eluded to the two dubious decisions that had a major impact on the game;
‘I thought our performance was good, actually. I think two shocking decisions gifted them two goals, I do not think it is a penalty and there was a blatant push for the second goal. We obviously protected a few, but Southampton are in good form and deserved to win. The first priority was to get a result, we lost but the second was to come through unscathed. We have no injuries, and no-one sent off so we should be fine.’
So there we have it, a fifteenth (or sixteenth should Bournemouth beat United) place finish in the Premier League secures a fourth consecutive campaign next season in the top division.
Yes, reinforcements are needed in the summer and there is no doubt Pardew is only too well aware. However, we have a small matter of a date at Wembley in arguably one of the biggest matches in the history of the club to look forward to first before attention turns to what may happen in the Summer and next season.
TEB Verdict
Our Twitter poll in the lead up to the game confirmed that 88% of fans wanted Pardew to play fringe and youth players in this fixture ahead of the FA Cup final which said a lot about the views ahead of the final game of the season. The only surprise was that more first team players than expected featured. The hosts clearly needed this one more and Palace had one eye on next weekend. No report of injuries so a successful defeat if ever there was one.
Player Ratings (courtesy of Who Scored)
- Julian Speroni (4.5) – Level with the most appearances at the club for a goalkeeper but combined shared the blame for the opening goal. The number one jersey seems to haunted this season.
- Joel Ward (6.1) – Arguably the best performer in the back line but could do little to prevent the loss. Replaced by Martin Kelly (6.0) on 82 minutes with Ward on a booking.
- Adrian Mariappa (5.4) – Seemed to be caught for pace on more than one occasion.
- Damien Delaney (6.0) – Far from a vintage performance from the big Irishman and shoulders part of the blame for the first goal.
- Pape Souare (5.9) – Another who was off the pace with perhaps one eye on the cup final.
- James McArthur (6.0) – Played his usual game but up against a team that needed the result that bit more. Replaced by Chung-yong Lee (6.0) on 78 minutes which could well be his last for the club.
- Mile Jedinak (7.1) – Surprise started but solid work in the middle of the after returning from injury.
- Jason Puncheon (7.5) – Terrific goal and good all round performance.
- Jordon Mutch (6.1) – Worked hard in the first half but replaced by Sullay KaiKai (6.6) on 46 minutes making his Premier League bow. Impressive cameo from the academy graduate and a real plus point from the game.
- Dwight Gayle (5.9) – Had a great chance to score but fired straight at the goalkeeper. Too often found wide and away from goal.
- Emmanuel Adebayor (6.2) – Much maligned since joining but filled a role in the absence of Wickham when required.
Unused substitutes – Alex McCarthy, Scott Dann, Jake Gray, Frazier Campbell
Match Statistics
The Who Scored man of the match was Sadio Mane (8.9) who also managed the most shots (5). Both Mile Jedinak and Cuco Martina had the most tackles (4) and Jason Puncheon made the most dribbles (3).
- Team rating: 7.41 – 6.12
- Total shots: 18 – 16
- Shots on target: 5 – 4
- Possession: 47.9% – 52.1%
- Pass success: 84% – 79%
- Dribbles: 7 – 6
- Aerials won: 14 – 9
- Tackles: 15 – 14
- Corners: 2 – 5
- Dispossessed: 13 – 13
Premier League Table
| 13 | Watford | 38 | -10 | 45 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | West Bromwich Albion | 38 | -14 | 43 | |
| 15 | Crystal Palace | 38 | -12 | 42 | |
| 16 | Bournemouth | 37 | -20 | 42 | |
| 17 | Sunderland | 38 | -14 | 39 |
