We needed that. We have longed for a comprehensive home performance.
Too many times this season we have seen Palace struggle at home against teams we should be beating.
A few more wins and we should guarantee our place in the division next year, which again will be a great achievement considering all the upheaval we have had this year.
Joel Ward
Mr Consistency. Joel Ward scored his first goal in a Palace shirt on his 98th appearance for the club. Ever since he arrived in South London from Portsmouth he has been brilliant. He is by far one of our most consistent performers.
He has developed for sure. Players have to when they step up to the big time. He has come up against some of the best players in world football and has not looked out of place.
The defender will always be one of the first names on the team sheet and his link up play with Wilfried Zaha has blossomed over recent months. At first glance, Ward is a proper defender, that no-nonsense type that loves a challenge but if you watch him he is actually an extremely technical player. He can pass and his tactical awareness is usually pretty much spot on. He has a lot going for him and it was great seeing him get his first goal.
Mind you, like Alan Pardew said after the game, the power he generated on the shot was probably as much as Pardew could muster nowadays. However, it went in and put the game beyond doubt.
I think I have said it before, if Ward keeps developing I see no reason why an England call up could not be a realistic possibility. At the moment there are probably two players in line for the right back spot – Nathaniel Clyne and Kyle Walker. We know Clyne very well. We all saw him grow and mature into the player he is today and for me he is currently the best right back in the country.
If Ward continues to perform like he is, fighting with Walker for that back up spot is a realistic target. People might think I am talking utter garbage but it is a discussion I am willing to have with any Premier League fan.
Roy Hodgson may not consider Selhurst Park as the most glamorous of places but if he had a venture down to SE25 to have a look at some of the young English talent we possess, I am sure he would not be too disappointed.
Wilfried Zaha
‘No Pain, no Gain’ – Wilf Zaha
It was an honest assessment of his goal. He took an almighty whack into the goal frame. He took the whack for the team, as it set us on our way to our deserved and much needed home win.
Since returning from United permanently, we have seen glimpses of the old Zaha. At Old Trafford it did not work out, but he is only 22 and has a wealth of time ahead of him.
I feel Pardew has had a huge effect on this young man. He is playing with freedom, before he was playing as if he had the shackles on. The visiting Queens Park Rangers players just could not live with him. He terrorised them mercilessly, especially the left back Yun.
It was a great win to get us eleven points clear of QPR which is a tremendous cushion to have at this stage in the season. It seems everyone is reaching their peak at such a crucial time.
Next up is Stoke City away at the Britannia. It is always a tough place to go to but given our record away from Selhurst we have absolutely nothing to fear.
