With changes made to the starting line up there was a concern heading into this game with the bottom of the table side but there was no need to worry as the visitors had far more problems than the hosts, and rarely threatened the Eagles who put in a good performance to seal all three points.
DATE
28th December 2021
RESULT
Crystal Palace 3-0 Norwich City
VENUE
Selhurst Park, Holmesdale Road, London SE25 6PU
OFFICIALS
Referee: Paul Tierney. Assistants: Constantine Hatzidakis, Neil Davies. Fourth official: John Brooks. VAR: Jonathan Moss. Assistant VAR: Marc Perry
DISCIPLINE
BOOKINGS – Ben Gibson (10), Odsonne Edouard (22), Sam Byram (29)
RED CARD – none
GOALS
Odsonne Edouard (8 pen), Jean Philippe Mateta (38), Jeffrey Schlupp (42)
ASSISTS
Odsonne Edouard (38, 42)
TEB VERDICT
After the disappointing performance against Spurs on Boxing Day, this was a pleasing victory particularly considering there were significant personnel missing from the starting line up. But those that did start put the game beyond the visitors by the break, and really should have had more. However, a good victory and a clean sheet considering the circumstances was impressive and signs off the calendar year in style.
Odsonne Edouard was caught the eye with a goal and two assists and it was good to see JP Mateta get on the score sheet, rounding off an excellent team move from a Norwich corner. Elsewhere, Will Hughes is doing a superb job in the middle of the park, Jordan Ayew working as hard as ever for the team and Tyrick Mitchell continues to be a rising star.
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.
“Norwich are certainly the weakest team we have played this season but the old adage that you can only beat what is in front of you rang true. Once we scored the first goal with Odsonne Edouard converting from the penalty spot it was then a question of how many more against a porous Norwich defence. Two well worked goals followed and a 3-0 advantage at half-time did not flatter us. Although we could have added to the score line, it became a case of controlling and managing the second half, especially following our second game in 48 hours. The combined influence of Gallagher and Zaha were not missed and a stronger creative bench not required to ensure a win.
It is reassuring to end the calendar year and the half way mark of our season with 23 points on the board. Just maybe with a sound platform built we can have a realistic tilt at progressing through to the latter stages of the FA Cup. The stand out performance was Will Hughes. He is exerting a growing significant influence on our pattern of play and overall high tempo, high pressing approach. Honourable mentions to Edouard and Jordan Ayew too in what proved to be a comfortable result with a solid team performance. Onwards to West Ham. A Happy New Year to our special supporters.”
PLAYER RATINGS
13 Vicente Guaita (7), 2 Joel Ward (7), 6 Marc Guehi (7), 16 Joachim Andersen (7), 3 Tyrick Mitchell (7), 15 Jeffrey Schlupp (8), 8 Cheikhou Kouyate (7), 12 Will Hughes (8), 9 Jordan Ayew (7), 22 Odsonne Edouard (8), 14 Jean-Philippe Mateta (8)
SUBSTITUTES – 1 Jack Butland, 4 Luka Milivojevic (6 – replaced Hughes on 73 mins), 5 James Tomkins (6 – replaced Andersen on 83 mins), 19 Remi Matthews, 20 Christian Benteke (6 – replaced Mateta on 81 mins), 34 Martin Kelly, 36 Nathan Ferguson, 44 Jairo Riedewald
OPPOSITION LINE-UP
28 Gunn, 3 Byram, 19 Sorensen, 4 Gibson, 30 Giannoulis, 8 Gilmour, 23 McLean, 11 Placheta, 20 Lees-Melou, 18 Tzolis, 35 Idah
SUBSTITUTES – 10 Dowell, 15 Kabak, 21 Williams (replaced Giannoulis on 45 mins), 24 Sargent (replaced Placheta on 81 mins), 26 Mumba, 33 McGovern, 46 Rowe (replaced Tzolis on 68 mins), 58 McCracken
POST GAME QUOTES
OSIAN ROBERTS – “It was important for us to get a good result. Two games in close proximity are always demanding, but getting a good start was really important. We managed to build on that as well so we’re really happy with the performance and the result. It’s important that we don’t rely on one or two players and also those we have players in the squad who can contribute. Jean-Philippe Mateta has been waiting in the wings, training well and waiting for the opportunity. He grasped it with both hands. We’ve got a group of players working in the same direction and that’s what we expect from them when they get the opportunity. We’re in a situation where we have players out. We really just have to focus on the players we have available on a day-to-day basis. Hopefully we’ll have a few more back for the West Ham game.”
DEAN SMITH – “I am disappointed today with the manner of the goals we conceded. We could have made a fight of it, but the goals we conceded in the 38th and 42nd minute took the game away from us. I felt we were too passive in our own penalty box, which caused their goals. We have a young squad. We lacked game management. They’ve got the more senior players in their squad and you could see that. Physically they probably won 60 per cent of their duels. You have to do that sometimes just to earn the right to play. I didn’t have a lot of choice with the team and the subs today. If that’s what the Premier League wants, so be it. We should never be asked in the current climate to put players through that [two games in three days]. Players will keep topping up the injury list. We had three who dropped out yesterday. It’s a really hard time, not just for us but for everyone at the moment.”
MATCH STATISTICS
The Who Scored man of the match was Jeffrey Schlupp (8.4) who also had the most shots along with Odsonne Edouard (6). The most tackles were made by Tyrick Mitchell and Billy Gilmour (6) while the most dribbles were by Jeffrey Schlupp and Odsonne Edouard (3)
- Team rating: 7.38 – 6.13
- Total shots: 19 – 12
- Shots on target: 6 – 3
- Possession: 51.1% – 48.9%
- Pass success: 78% – 79%
- Passes: 388 – 372
- Dribbles: 9 – 6
- Aerials won: 20 – 14
- Tackles: 25 – 16
- Fouls: 9 – 13
- Corners: 8 – 8
- Saves: 2 – 3
- Dispossessed: 11 – 14
POSITION IN THE TABLE
At the final whistle Palace were 9th in the Premier League with 23 points from 17 games played, 2 points behind Wolves in 8th and level with Brighton in 10th.
UPCOMING FIXTURES
01/01/21 West Ham United (h) – Premier League (5.30pm)
08/01/21 Millwall (a) – FA Cup (12.45pm)
14/01/21 Brighton (a) – Premier League (8pm)
