Match day. I set off to Selhurst Park with the un-nerving feeling that a possible rout could be on the cards if we weren’t at the races.
Current form needed to be addressed and it doesn’t come any harder than Pep Guardiola’s multi million pound assembled squad as we tried to stop our alarming run of defeats.
I do however feel that our performances have not warranted the current predicament but as we all know, football is a results business.
Alan Pardew was forced into making a change in goal bringing back Welsh international Wayne Hennessey to replace Steve Mandanda who picked up a slight knee injury while on international duty with France. The ever popular club legend Julian Speroni was recalled to the substitutes bench as back up. Also missing from the squad was Joe Ledley who also picked up an injury while on international duty. James Tomkins was recalled to partner captain Scott Dann at centre back replacing Damien Delaney who would have to settle for a place on the bench joined by the recalled Bakary Sako and Jordon Mutch. Christian Benteke would again be the lone man up front still searching for his first goal for us at Selhurst Park.
Manchester City fielded a strong side with an attacking 4-3-3 formation with the likes of Vincent Kompany, Kevin de Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, Sergio Aguero and starting his first game of the season Yaya Toure who had earned himself a recall to the starting eleven.
The game was fittingly respected by the club to remember the tragic loss of the Croydon tram tragedy that happened recently taking seven lives, including two of our own with a minutes silence before kick-off and the official match programme dedicated to the victims. The stadium also applauded the tragic victims on ninteen and fifty-seven minutes with for Dane Chennery and Phil ‘Tank’ Sears.
A formidable test kicked off for the Eagles as they attempted to stop a run of four straight defeats. We started well matching Manchester City by showing a high work ethic and desire to give it their all.
The first real chance came after a needless foul on Wilfried Zaha by Alexsander Kolarov was awarded for a free kick by referee Bobby Madley deep inside Palace’s half . The free kick taken by Hennessey was hit into the City box and headed down only for the ball to fall to Benteke who took the ball down with great technique, crontolled with his thigh before firing a shot at goal that went wide with Claudio Bravo untroubled in the visitors goal.
A long clearance by Hennessey saw Jason Puncheon charge towards the out rushing Bravo who collided with Kompany as the defender put himself between Puncheon and the ball leaving the Belgian in a heap on the ground as the goalkeeper collected the ball.
Palace were showing great desire, work rate and tenacity in matching their technically superior opponents and Yohan Cabaye and Puncheon were especially looking determined. However, the visitors always looked a threat when going forward pinging the ball about quickly and effectively.
An effort went over the bar from Aguero after a good eight pass move found Kolarov who for the first time in the match got goal side of Zaha and whipped the ball across the area to see a first time flick by the energetic Argentinian went just wide of the goal with Hennessey stranded.
The injury blighted Kompany had to leave the field clearly still in some discomfort due to his earlier collision with Bravo and was replaced by Pablo Zabaleta with Bacary Sagna slotting in at centre back.
Once again, the opening goal came courtesy of a catalogue of mistakes. James McArthur was caught in possession trying to do too much with the ball on the edge of the area and was hurried into making a mistake. It was a danger that Palace never managed to deal with and City just piled forward in numbers. Then after another impressive passing move between Toure, Aguero and Nolito saw the recalled Ivory Coast international smash his shot into the top right hand corner which deflected off James Tomkins. Credit where credit is due, it was a quality goal but if only McArthur had cleared the ball earlier, perhaps Martin Kelly may not have been in the position he was to make a further mistake.
It was a harsh blow for Palace who had worked so hard to match their visitors and deserved to go in at half-time on level terms instead of trailing.
The second half began with Pardew replacing the again under performing Andros Townsend with striker Connor Wickham who scored last time out against Burnley and has an impressive goal scoring record against City. This saw Puncheon revert to the wide area to accommodate the position vacated by Townsend.
The former Southampton man was fortunate however that a cynical challenge on Zabaleta went unnoticed by the officials as it could of easily been a booking but Palace were pushing hard and looking hungry. The exciting Zaha beat Fernandinho and found Puncheon out wide. He found his way into the box, shimmied past Zabaleta with a change of pace and floated the ball across the goalmouth. Benteke managed to get on the end of it and directed a bulleted header goal bound only to see his effort heroically saved on the line low down by Bravo. The rebound fell to Zaha who agonisingly shot just wide. Unlucky Palace after some excellent play by Puncheon. Palace’s best moment of the match and a real left off for City.
Another Palace corner by Puncheon was again met by the head of Benteke but the effort was scooped clear by Toure as Palace were in the ascendancy, putting Manchester City on the back foot such was their desire to get back on level terms.
Such was Palace’s continued effort to push forward, it nearly cost them as a counter attack by the visitors saw them tear up the pitch with de Bruyne finding Sterling. His pass back to de Bruyne then found Aguero who shot from inside the six yard box forcing Hennessey to pull off a save. The ball got past him but he took the sting out of it and a retreating Joel Ward cleared off the line preventing City from doubling their advantage.
Straight from the clearance, Palace piled forward. Kelly brought the ball out and found Wickham who passed back to McArthur, the Scot found Zaha out wide who made up ground before squaring to a pumped up Connor Wickham on the edge of the box. His excellent first touch beat the challenge of Zabaleta and fired with tremendous venom a shot that flew into the back of the net past the outstretched leg of Bravo. A quality goal after some quality play and no more than the Eagles deserved. It certainly proved a wise decision from Pardew to replace an ineffective Townsend with the hungrier looking Wickham.
Palace had got themselves back on level terms and were again in the situation of that at Burnley with the difficult decision to stick or twist – go for the win or settle for the draw?
A more urgent energy was now being shown by Manchester City and Palace would need to be wary. They continued to look threatening going forward such was the quality of their team and a good opportunity found Raheem Sterling after a cross by de Bruyne wasn’t anticipated by the tricky winger.
In what was to prove a somewhat controversial decision by Pardew saw him replace the main goal threat by substituting Christian Benteke for Chung-Yong Lee, perhaps revealing that he wanted to stick this week instead of twist and take a valuable point against the potential Premier League champions.
A tenacious unnecessary tackle by Cabaye on Toure led to a free kick for City. The set piece was taken by Toure which found Sterling out wide. The England international got past Puncheon only to see the ball cleared for a corner by stand in left back Martin Kelly. The resulting corner was taken by de Bruyne. The ball found and unmarked Toure in the area who slotted into the empty net. Palace had fallen asleep at a crucial moment and been cruelly punished in the worse outcome and for their lack of concentration.
It was a bitter blow and harsh on Palace as they had worked so hard in the match. Winning and losing games in the division are such fine margins and any mistake or lack of concentration is capitalised on. One more clear chance fell to Palace as they again pushed to get back on level terms. The tricky Zaha beat Kolarov on the wing once again and crossed to Puncheon who was inside the eighteen yard box. His effort went agonisingly wide with Bravo beaten and left Palace players with their heads in their hands.
Unfortunately that was to be it for Palace and it was a fifth defeat in a row. It was a good, honest, hard working performance by the home team and for their efforts probably deserved a draw. However, the facts do not lie. One point from a possible eighteen and the pressure mounts on the manager with some questioning his substitution of Benteke even though he called the Wickham one correctly. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
Now is not a time to cast blame, we are all in this together and need to get behind the team. Palace sit just outside the drop zone but the next three games are ones that I personally feel will define our season and are all winnable – Swansea City and free falling Hull City away and Southampton at home.
Keep the faith, it will come right.
