A trip up North for the Eagles as they bid to end a winless run of four matches including three defeats against a Burnley team that seem better prepared for their Premier League assault this time around and already clocking up good home wins against the likes of Liverpool and Everton.
I felt confident that we could get something from the game as we had the better squad of players, technically superior and these are the games that Palace should now be capable of winning as the more established top fight force.
Both teams were closely positioned in the table ahead of kick off with Palace just above Burnley thanks to goal difference.
The match was being watched by caretaker England manager and former Eagle Gareth Southgate, so an opportunity for Scott Dann and Wilfried Zaha to show they are worthy of joining Andros Townsend and getting a call up.
Boss Alan Pardew made changes from the defeat at home to Liverpool last time out by recalling Townsend, Jason Puncheon and Damien Delaney to the starting line up at the expense of Lee Chung-Yong, Joe Ledley and James Tomkins.
Steve Mandanda kept his place in goal despite a below par performance by the French international last time out as he continued to seek his first clean sheet between the Palace sticks.
Kick off and a positive start by the visitors, who were awarded a corner after positive work down the right by Townsend. The corner was taken by Puncheon, but it was poorly distributed and headed clear by Johann Berg Gudmundsson. The ball fell to Jeff Hendrick who rushed up the pitch pursued by Yohan Cabaye and Zaha. The Palace winger muscled the ball off Hendrick only for it to drop to Steven Defour who passed the ball across the area to Gudmundsson. His crossed it into the box found an unmarked Matthew Lowton who shot at goal causing panic in the Eagles penalty box. The ball beat Mandanda but was cleared off the line by Dann however the rebound unfortunately bobbled to Sam Vokes who was left with a golden opportunity to poke the ball into the net. A good slice of luck for Burnley and as a result of a bad set piece from Palace at the other end, just two minutes gone and the South London outfit were trailing.
Mandanda would have to wait yet again for that elusive clean sheet but there was still plenty of time for Palace to dust themselves down, roll their sleeves up and go again.
Palace were still playing the more positive football and showing they were technically better on the ball and responded well when a good effort from after a pass inside the box from Benteke was smartly saved at the second attempt by England international goalkeeper Tom Heaton. Puncheon had tried to side foot pass it into the net when perhaps he would have been better putting his foot through it with a bit more power.
The visitors continued to press and had a fabulous opportunity when Jon Flanagan lost possession in the middle of the field. The ball was picked up by Puncheon who found Townsend on the right wing. Running at Mee, the former Newcastle player floated a ball into the Burnley box which was controlled and brought down by Christian Benteke. The Belgian strikers shot at goal was blocked by a melee of Claret players throwing their bodies on the line in a desperate attempt to stop the Palace onslaught. The ball deflected off McArthur to an umarked Zaha who took a shot but somehow Tom Heaton managed to save impressively with his leg with two Burnley defenders desperately scrambling on the goal line.
The home defence breathed a huge sigh of relief and Palace counted themselves unfortunate not to be back on level terms.
Burnley were struggling to cope with the pace that the Eagles were showing in the early stages but their counter attacking play worked once again. Palace simply shot themselves in the foot. From no apparent danger, a pass by Puncheon to Townsend in the middle of the park deflected off the latter and eventually found its way to Gudmundsson. The Icelandic international was allowed to get past Joel Ward and shoot from outside the penalty area. It was hit with such force that it was only parried by Mandanda and the ball looped up and found it’s way into the back of the net.
It was clear mistake by Mandanda and he will know he should of done better. A player of his calibre should not be letting in those kind of shots, and a goal that Wayne Hennessey would of been crucified for had he done the same. But once again, terrible defensive play by the Eagles with only themselves to blame for trailing by two goals so early to a side that they had been outplaying up to that point.
The side from Turf Moor couldn’t quite believe their luck as for all the good work put in up front, Palace continued to defend like a Championship outfit.
It’d be easy to get on Pardew’s back at this point, but can you blame the manager for the individual errors being made for the two opening goals? Palace conceded down to a lack of basic defending and goalkeeping by professional players who should be doing and are capable of doing much better.
Palace to their credit didn’t give up and kept plugging away, asking questions of the Burnley side who were only breaking out of their half on the counter. Townsend had a decent opportunity after picking up the ball from Benteke after a ball from Joel Ward, but his shot from outside the box on his weaker right foot went wide of the goal with Heaton stranded. It was then Benteke who had an effort well saved again at the second attempt by the Burnley custodian Heaton.
The pressure continued to build as a Palace throw taken by Zaha to Puncheon who floated a delightful ball into the area to find the head of Benteke who out jumped Mee only to see his effort go inches wide of the goal.
Half time and and Palace were trailing to the two early goals. They had been the better side but defensive mistakes had cost them dear. Pardew would need to earn his corn in the dressing room if things were to be rectified.
The second half began with an early opportunity for Vokes to increase his side’s lead only to see his effort from outside the area go wide with Mandanda scrambling across his goal mouth.
As the half continued, Palace were pushing on with more purpose but then a long ball by Burnley found their lone man up front in Vokes who beat Dann and ran into the area pursued by the desperate Delaney. He managed to shoot at goal only to see his effort well saved by Mandanda. The ball fell back to Vokes but his second attempt was again saved by our keeper with Ward on hand to hook clear.
That would have been game over and a lesson to Palace that despite the need to push on to try and save something from the game, Burnley were still dangerous on the break. Pardew had to throw the dice and threw on Zeki Fryers for the unconvincing Martin Kelly and Connor Wickham to replace Jason Puncheon who was only returning from injury and perhaps was not quite up to a full ninety minutes despite having a decent match. Palace would now play with the two big men up front in a desperate attempt to rescue something from a game which was slowly slipping away from them.
Injury prone Connor Wickham had not scored in his last eleven Premier League games so a change was much needed in those statistics, and it soon did. Dann picked up the ball at the edge of the Palace area and ran to virtually the half way line before passing to Zaha out wide. He got past Flanagan with ease and put a delightful cross into the box that found the determined strong run by Wickham who unleashed a powerful shot past Heaton and into the net. The Eagles were back in it with a hour gone.
Wickham personally grabbed the ball out of the net and charged back up the field, such was his desire to get us back in this match. His first goal in twelve matches and a brilliant finish by the twenty-three year old.
A chance for the hosts from a corner but it was cleared by Benteke. The ball dropped to Zaha who played a good ball to Townsend. He charged up the pitch towards the Burnley goal with their players struggling to get back from their corner. Townsend beat Dean Marney and crossed into the box only for the ball to hit the hand of Lowton. Palace appealed for a penalty…. given!
It was a golden opportunity for the Eagles to get themselves back on level terms and up stepped Benteke with the opportunity to redeem himself after his woeful attempt earlier on this season against West Ham United. There was no need to fear as the former Liverpool striker as calm as you like and with a little shimmy sent Heaton the wrong way and slotted the ball into the net. Top penalty, and he handled the pressure superbly. Cool as a cucumber is our Christian.
The South Londoners were deservedly back on level terms but if only it wasn’t for those ridiculous defensive mishaps in the first half.
Just nine minutes to go and Palace were in the ascendancy and looked the only side that could go on and score a winner.
Pardew had appeared to of got himself out of jail and the mounting pressure that was now surrounding him. Throwing caution the wind and not prepared to settle for the draw, Pardew urged his team to pile on the pressure and push for the winner. In doing so he made his final change with a like for like as McArthur was replaced by Joe Ledley.
With five minutes of injury time indicated, Palace continued to push for the winning goal as the team now showed the belief with Burnley looking shellshocked.
Then another counter attack in the last minute of added time saw the hosts break and charge up the field, Palace were exposed with only Ward back in defence. Two on one as Gudmundsson squared to substitute Ashley Barnes who shot past Mandanda and into the net with both Zaha and Cabaye desperately trying to recover from the foot race from the other end of the pitch.
Cabaye fell to his knees in despair in the back of the goal. Barnes had scored his first goal in twenty-three games after a long spell out through injury. Cue pandemonium from the Burnley supporters around the ground.
A cruel way to lose a game after working so hard to get back into the game. I’m sure I was not alone feeling choked and physically sick. Pardew looked stunned on the touchline. Had he tactically got it wrong by going for the win? Or should he have just settled for the draw after the players had done so well to get back into the game and stop the run of defeats?
Palace were not done however as one final onslaught ended with a superb strike from Townsend on the edge of the area which hit the post with Heaton well beaten. Townsend put his head in his hands which said it all.
It was a real tough result to take. Palace deserved at least a draw after being the better team but again defensive mistakes cost them. In hindsight, the point should have been taken instead of pushing for the winner, but that is the way we play under Alan Pardew. If it had worked out, he would have been the hero but as it happens, he is clearly now the villian. Fine margins but on another day, it could have easily been a different score line.
Palace have now conceded ten goals in their last three games as we head into the international break. Four defeats on the trot, no wins in five? The pressure continues to mount on Pardew.
This Palace side is actually not far off being a force to be reckoned with. Dangerous going forward but so vulnerable at the back. A balance needs to be found and quickly as there is an alarmingly slide down the table. The Eagles now sit just three places outside the relegation zone. Such an event would set the club back years so everyrthing must be done to stay in the division. The squad is definitely good enough, just need to start getting things tactically right. That can only come from Pardew and his coaching team.
Next up Palace host Manchester City where the side will look to improve on the woeful home form before a trip to struggling Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium.
