Palace Struggle To Create But Take Point From Ten Man Leeds

The Eagles recorded back-to-back goalless draws with this one being a tough watch between two teams that were very much below par on a dark and cold afternoon at Selhurst.

MATCH INFORMATION

PLAYER RATINGS

UNUSED SUBSTITUTES – 17 Nathaniel CLYNE, 24 Borna SOSA, 31 Remi MATTHEWS, 34 Chadi RIAD, 55 Justin DEVENNY

UNUSED SUBSTITUTES – 1 Lucas PERRI, 7 Dan JAMES, 8 Sean LONGSTAFF, 10 Joel PIROE, 22 Ao TANAKA, 23 Sebastiaan BORNAUW, 29 Wilfried NONTO,

POST GAME QUOTES

OLIVER GLASNER

“We’re not 100% happy or pleased with the result, and also not with the performance, to be fair, but we have to accept it. It was a very physical and intense first half, and then after the red card, we had a lot of possession, but we moved the ball too slow, that’s a topic we have. We know and we are talking about it, we are trying to improve in training.”

WALTER BENITEZ

“We played a good game. We tried to change a little bit in the second half to play more, but it’s always difficult in the Premier League. You have most of the teams playing very well. Of course, we tried to score, but the point is positive. Thursday is the most important now. We’re going to prepare this week for Larnaca, and then hope to qualify for the next round.”

MATCH STATISTICS

BOB’S POINT OF VIEW

Bob White was a coach at Palace under the tenure of Steve Coppell and Alan Smith and will be sharing his point of view each week in our review article.

It’s difficult to sum up the performance without sounding too negative but I’m sure not too many Palace fans left Selhurst Park having enjoyed the game.

There were some valid criticisms made about the European Conference game against Larnaca on Thursday about our inability to beat teams who present a low block or in old currency ‘park the bus’.

Similar criticisms can be made especially playing against ten men for 50 minutes. Possession too slow and predictable, a lack of creativity and movement off the ball combined with some careless passing all contributed to an end result with not one effort on target.

The team cried out for a Zaha, an Olise or an Eze to produce that ‘X Factor’ moment to change the course of a game whilst getting fans out of their seats with expectation. This game was void of genuine entertainment. The referee was poor and out of his depth but in all honesty the overall standard of play was little better.

At a deeper level, Glasner seemingly finds it difficult to create and put into practice alternative tactical approaches when his preferred set up does not work. Like for like positional substitutions are not always the answer as we saw against both Larnaca and Leeds.

The question remains is Glasner too stubborn to change systems or has he been found out in not being able to coach another tactical approach to break down teams who employ a deeper defensive set up? 

We were fortunate with the missed penalty and the sending off, otherwise it could have been worse against a team who offered very little offensively.

Fortunately, we still have plenty to play for in the Conference League if we progress on Thursday. However, on the flip side, a defeat would leave very little to play for and the possibility of an underwhelming limp to the end of the season.

Probably for the first time this season not one Palace player stood out in their performance.

I would like to add one comment on the reaction of Jaydee Canvot following the sending off of a Leeds player before half-time. I do not condone a player celebrating a fellow professional being given a red card. It’s not a good look and hopefully one of the staff or a fellow player will have a quiet word with this undoubted young talent.

Let’s hope the second leg in Cyprus is a positive outcome. Good luck to the team and up the Palace! 

TEB VERDICT

Uninspiring is the word that springs to mind after another performance at home that really did leave fans dismayed and disappointed, particularly after failing to make the most of the man advantage in the second half.

There was nobody on the pitch that could light the blue touch paper, get fans off their seats and simply bring something different to this Palace side.

It has been a long season and we are in the home straight in the league which just seems to be fizzling out. The home form has been atrocious, and without that very good recent victory at Spurs the Eagles could be in a lot of trouble.

Everything rests on the trip to Cyprus on Thursday. Returning without progressing will end the season before it ends, leaving just eight Premier League games left to take part in.

They just must find a way of doing what needs to be done, finding some inspiration from somewhere as there was no evidence of that against Leeds and Larnaca on Thursday night.

This was a poor performance once again, and one against a side fighting for their Premier League future. While the visitors themselves offered very little, it should have been Palace taking the game to them and forcing the win, and that is something that this side under Glasner really struggles to do right now.

LEAGUE POSITION

UPCOMING FIXTURES

*fixture subject to change