Connect with us

Match Reports

Crystal Palace vs Hartlepool United Match Report & Player Ratings

Published

on

Crystal Palace and Hartlepool United F.C. met in the fourth round FA Cup tie on Saturday 5th February. The capacity at Selhurst Park was full with over 5,000 travelling away fans from the North East including Jeff Stelling who is from Hartlepool.

Mateta made his first start for Palace after signing permanently in the January transfer window. With Zaha only just coming back to training, on either side of him he had Eze and Olise. Milivojevic started in the centre of the park replacing Will Hughes in that role and he had Gallagher and Schlupp alongside. Martin Kelly started at centre-back with Guehi to his left and the normal Ward and Mitchell on right and left-back. Butland remained in goal after the win in the third round of the FA Cup against Millwall.

First half

It took Palace only four minutes to get the first goal and it came after a free-kick was whipped in by Olise for Marc Guehi to get on the end of it and get his third goal of the season. Hartlepool fans can argue that the foul that led to the goal was a soft one.

Hartlepool didn’t let their heads drop after this early goal though. They piled on some pressure and had an effort on goal but it was a comfortable save for Jack Butland.

Olise and Ward down the right flank were fundamental for Palace with many overlap balls leading to crosses into the box.

Then, in the 22nd minute of the match, a poor goal kick from Hartlepool’s keeper allowed Gallagher to knock the ball to Olise who then had one man to beat before slotting it down the keepers near side.

At two goals up Palace remained calm and kept a strong formation so that Hartlepool couldn’t counter, but they could when the time was right.

Second half

Early in the second half, Mateta hit the post from a few yards out, and then Mitchell wasn’t able to finish it on the rebound from a similar distance. Quite easily could have been three and game over.

Hartlepool’s keeper then kept them in the game by saving two shots one after another from the goalscorer Olise. Mateta also had a great effort on goal after some nice build-up play, but Killip again kept the League Two side in the match.

At 2-0 up, Vieira made three changes in the 71st minute with the following players coming on:

  • Edouard for Eze
  • Hughes for Schlupp
  • Clyne for Mitchell

It’s not often that Mitchell comes off, but with a big match against Norwich midweek, it was a good idea to rest these players.

Hartlepool’s debutant Morris had a good effort on goal which forced Butland to make a sharp save. Benteke came on for Mateta in the 80th minute and then ​​in the 86th Adaramola for Joel Ward.

Hartlepool looked better in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to challenge the Eagles who controlled most of the game after being 2-0 up at halftime.

Crystal Palace Player Ratings

  • Olise – 9
  • Eze – 8
  • Gallagher – 8
  • Milivojevic – 8
  • Butland – 8
  • Ward – 8
  • Mateta – 7
Continue Reading

Match Reports

Crystal Palace vs Southampton Match Report & Highlights

Published

on

Odsonne Edouard scoring against Southampton

Crystal Palace hosted Southampton for the Saturday afternoon match and came away with their third consecutive home win. In-form striker Odsonne Edouard scored the only goal of the match in the first half and then Palace defended well in the second half.

It was The Eagles’ final home match before the league stops for the World Cup so it was a vital win going into the final two Premier League matches.

Keep reading to see the match summary and the highlights at the end.

First Half

  • Palace got an early free-kick after Zaha was brought down just outside the area. Milivojevic took it, but it was too close to the goal for the ball to get enough dip and be on target.
  • A dangerous corner from James Ward-Prowse left the Palace defence scrambling to get the ball clear.
  • Olise was brought down cynically and then delivered the ball into the area, but the keeper comfortably punched it out for a corner.
  • Another foul for Palace when Joel Ward was barged off the ball down the right-hand side. Olise’s delivery was well-defended though.
  • Schlupp managed to turn the defender and sprint into Southampton’s penalty area before cutting it back for Milivojevic who had his shot deflected out.
  • A beautiful touch from Eze allowed him to play Zaha in on the left, who squared it for Edouard, but the Frenchman couldn’t get a touch on it to slot it home. He may well have been offside anyway had it gone in.
  • Palace had a penalty shout as Olise appeared to be brought down in the area. On second look, there wasn’t enough in it for it to be a foul.
  • Che Adams was through on goal with Andersen tracking back. The Southampton striker managed to get a shot off and hit the post, but the linesman finally put up his flag for offside.
  • Palace played it around nicely, with Milivojevic finding Eze who had a long-distance effort saved and out for a corner.
  • Moments later Eze had another effort on goal, although Edouard and Zaha were both screaming for the ball.
  • Palace managed to score, but Olise was offside in the build-up to the goal so Edouard’s nutmeg through the keeper’s legs was chalked off.
  • Palace should’ve been in front with all these chances and another fell to Andersen from a corner, but the header was comfortable for Buzunu.
  • Finally, Palace took the lead through a well-worked goal. Zaha won the ball back and played in Mitchell down the left before cutting it back for Edouard to poke it home. 1-0 to The Eagles.

Second Half

  • Elyounoussi had an early effort on goal in the second half and the Southampton players were shouting for handball. VAR decided no penalty as the ball hit Guehi’s foot before touching his hand.
  • Down the other end, Olise was running at The Saints’ defence and ended up unleashing an effort with his weaker right foot. The shot was blocked and Edouard was offside when picking up the rebound.
  • Palace were under pressure in the second half. Adams won a header against Andersen to find Ward-Prowse who then played a great through ball back to him only for Guaita to make a crucial to keep Palace in the lead.
  • Another chance for The Saints as Armstrong travelled down the left flank and unleashed an effort on goal only for Guaita to make another top save.
  • Moments later Armstrong had another effort on goal, this time hitting the outside of the post and then coming back and hitting Ward for a corner.
  • Zaha had a lot of time running at the Southampton left-back that he took too long and saw his poor left-footed effort easily blocked.
  • Mitchell gave the ball away in a dangerous area and Southampton were able to get an effort on goal, but Guaita made another vital save.
  • Jordan Ayew attacked down the right wing and managed to find a cross into Schlupp, but a Southampton defender blocked it.
  • Olise broke away from his man in the Palace half and made ground before finding Ayew. The Ghana international had so much time, but couldn’t pick out Zaha in the middle! Really should’ve been 2-0 with the match over.

Crystal Palace vs Southampton Highlights

Continue Reading

Match Reports

Crystal Palace vs Wolves Match Report & Highlights

Published

on

Eze celebrating his goal with Olise in the background

Crystal Palace managed to get their second win in three matches on Tuesday night when they faced Wolves at home. The Eagles went behind in the first half but returned in the second half with Eze and Zaha getting on the scoresheet.

Keep reading to see the key match points and the highlights at the end.

First half

  • Early on Doucoure almost got his first goal for the Eagles when he smacked the post from a long-range effort.
  • Diego Costa should have scored for Wolves, but Ward stuck with him and Guaita made a vital save.
  • Wolves had another effort on goal, but it was deflected wide for a corner.
  • Olise and Eze stood over the ball for a free kick and Eye took it and fired it wide.
  • Andersen had an effort on goal after Eze’s second delivery in from a corner.
  • A quick cross-in from Wolves led to the first goal of the game, Traore headed home from close range.
  • On the edge of halftime, Schlupp found Zaha but he couldn’t keep his shot down blazing it over with his left foot.
  • Doucoure was the first Palace player in the book after bringing down Traore on a run on goal.
  • Palace got lucky when Ruben Neves smacked the post from the free kick of this foul. That was half-time.

Second half

  • Within two minutes of the restart, Palace equalised through a great team goal that started with Eze in the middle of the pitch and ended with Olise crossing it to him to head home. Clearly, Vieira’s half-time team talk pushed the players to fight back fast.
  • Edouard couldn’t get enough on his shot to work the keeper and the ball didn’t fall right for Olise. Ward followed it up but was penalised for a foul on the Wolves keeper.
  • Zaha showed great strength and resilience when he battled three Wolves players in his own half and came away with the ball. This led to some great build-up play and finally an acrobatic bicycle-kick effort from Edouard who wasn’t far off the goal. It would’ve been one of the goals of the season had it gone in.
  • Andersen played a great ball to Mitchell to attack the Wolves’ penalty area. The ball fell to Eze who set up Zaha, but Jose Sa made a comfortable save.
  • Moments later, Eze played a great through ball to Edouard who then found Zaha in the middle. He had another time to take a touch and then smash it past the keeper, 2-1 Palace.
  • Late on down the other end though, Wolves still posed a threat when Collins missed a sitter. The referee did blow for offside though so it wouldn’t have counted if he did score.

Crystal Palace vs Wolves Highlights

Continue Reading

Match Reports

Leicester vs Crystal Palace Match Report & Highlights

Published

on

Olise under pressure from Dewsbury-Hall

The match between Crystal Palace and Leicester was one that we didn’t want to rewatch on Match of the Day. It ended in a 0-0 draw with the match being very scrappy and Palace only having one shot on target in the match.

If Leicester had more confidence on the day they would’ve won easily so Palace were lucky to come away with a point. As Milivojevic said after the game, the positive to take away from the game is that it’s a clean sheet away from home.

Palace now host Wolves at home on Tuesday night and Vieira will hope his team can get into better-attacking positions then.

Keep reading for the brief match summary points as well as the highlights.

First half

  • The ball came to Doucoure on the edge of the area who then found Zaha but he got too much under the ball and it went much too high.
  • Down the other end, Daka, tested Guaita with a powerful shot but the Spaniard easily parried it away for a corner.
  • Guehi had a chance to put Palace ahead but he headed it over the bar when he really should’ve found the target. He looked frustrated with himself.
  • Zaha found Eze in the middle of the pitch with enough time and space to line up a shot and forced Danny Ward to make a save.

Second half

  • Milivojevic and Riedewald on for Mitchell and Doucoure
  • Castagne had an effort from long range but it was a comfortable catch for Guaita.
  • Maddison then watched a scuffed effort dribble past the post.
  • Patient build-up from Palace led to Edouard having a good effort on goal, but Leicester’s keeper saved it easily.
  • Zaha came off for Mateta, the Ivory Coast international wasn’t happy about being taken off, but he never got into the match.
  • Maddison’s corner into Castagne caused a scare for palace fans but Guaita handled it well.
  • Iheahanacho’s effort on goal from a short corner
  • A minute later the Nigerian international caused more trouble with Dewsbury-Hall going close and claiming handball.
  • Maddison went down in the area in stoppage time from a challenge from Milivojevic but the referee saw it clearly and immediately booked Maddison for simulation.

Leicester vs Crystal Palace Highlights

Continue Reading

Copyright © 2022 We Support The Palace.