That was our best team performance so far this campaign.
Everybody stuck to their job. The only downside is that we came away from White Hart Lane with only a point when in all fairness, it should have been all three. The reaction from Neil Warnock said it all;
We played some good stuff, created havoc at times and always looked a threat. I do not know how many times I put my head in my hands today as I thought we had scored that many. Wilfried and Bolasie were brilliant but my man of the match was Chamakh. He covered every blade of grass.
I must say the current Tottenham side is one of the poorest I have seen. If I was Mauricio Pocchettino, I would be worried. Especially with the record Mr. Levy has of sacking managers.
The players they have brought in since the departure of Gareth Bale have done nothing. Erik Lamela was poor and Roberto Soldado was lacklustre. Spurs struggled all over the pitch.
Consistency
If we can add that vital ingredient ‘consistency’ we would be in a far healthier position than we are at the moment.
We will not dwell on the Villa result as we know we should be winning those types of games but imagine following up a Villa win with the point at Spurs. That would have been a fantastic week.
We had consistency at the back end of last season when Tony Pulis was orchestrating our escape from the bottom three. We were picking up points at Selhurst and away from home. It is something we need to integrate into this campaign.
If Warnock can add that I truly believe we will be safe from the drop. With Stoke City next to come to Selhurst, a good result is needed especially when the next two games are against Manchester City and Southampton. It makes even more sense if the lads can add that much needed consistency.
Warnock Substitutions
Warnock’s use of substitutes in previous games have been a tad bemusing. At times in the game where we have needed that spark, he has opted for a safer option. When Jason Puncheon came on for an impressive Wilfried Zaha I was thinking the obvious question – why?
It did work out well. We did not lose that attacking thrust which Zaha gave us. If anything, Puncheon gave us that added composure. To cap it off he had a wonderful chance to score but his volley cannoned off the crossbar.
I might be picking holes Warnock perhaps should have gambled a little more. Palace was in the ascendency, Tottenham offered little attacking threat, and when they did Scott Dann and company looked assured.
Maybe throwing on Dwight Gayle or Frazier Campbell and sacrificing a midfield player could have worked. Then again, it could have had an opposite effect.
Wilfried Zaha
After a slow start to his second spell at Selhurst Park, the prodigal son is slowly beginning to nail down a regular starting berth.
On the evidence of Saturday, Zaha is back to his confident and exuberant self. In the first half there were two pieces of outrageous skill, one from Zaha and then a sublime trick from none other than Yannick Bolasie.
I felt for Zaha going off he had the full back retreating whenever he had the ball. It sure is great to see a marauding Zaha in full flow.
McJedley
We will be fighting in the bottom half of the table, there is no doubt. To make sure we steer clear from the dreaded drop, you need a solid midfield partnership. We have that in James McArthur, Mile Jedinak and Joe Ledley.
I might have jumped a gun suggesting McArthur is not suited to play in the number ten role but when you have players such as Zaha and Bolasie creating chances it does not matter.
The three on Saturday were sensational. McArthur just does not stop running. Jedinak provides the calming influence. Ledley adds that passing ability. If we can keep them fit it will only serve us good for the rest of the season.
After that display we can only praise the positives, it was a terrific response after the frustration of Villa. Few can argue that we deserved to win.
Hopefully it is onwards and upwards but it all boils down to that dreaded word ‘consistency’ again. If we add that, another season in the Premier League looks more likely.
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