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Match Reports

Millwall vs Crystal Palace Match Report & Player Ratings

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The south London derby between Millwall and Crystal Palace was always going to be a feisty, energetic, and tight match. With three of Palace’s regular players away for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), it meant that Olise had his chance to start on his favoured right-wing instead of Ayew.

Eze also made his first start of the season after being out with his Achilles injury and had only made two appearances from the bench all season. This was the first time that the two teams met in a competitive fixture since April 2013, almost ten years ago.

First Half

Palace kicked off towards the Millwall fans at The Den and it was the Lions that came out on the front foot hitting the top of the crossbar within minutes. As expected in a derby like this, tackles were flying in early making it a scrappy start for both teams.

Hughes was lucky to get off without a booking for his challenge on Ojo as Anthony Taylor didn’t even award a free-kick. Afobe hit a first-time shot six yards wide of the goal and could have easily opened the scoring.

Gallagher and Saville both went up for a header and Gallagher got an accidental elbow to the eye. He was good to continue after a quick check from the physio.

17 minutes into the match and the scoring was opened by Millwall after a huge error from Palace’s keeper, Butland. Millwall’s high press resulted in him panicking and losing the ball to Tom Bradshaw before Afobe slotted it home. Viera wants Palace to play out from the back and this is what can happen when the keeper hasn’t adapted to this style.

For the first 20 minutes, Millwall was dominant and hadn’t allowed Palace into the game. Schlupp was able to get a couple of shots at goal, but nothing to test the keeper. Schlupp managed to pick up a yellow card for arguing with the ref, a cheap one to pick up so early.

The match became scrappy again with tackles flying in and Palace complaining at the refereeing. Taylor even went to have a word with Viera on the touchline to tell him to reign it in.

Palace started to get a hold of the game pushing Millwall back and Gallagher had a curler go wide by a few inches. Guehi brought down Ojo who was tricky down the right side all afternoon and he was lucky to not be booked. The free-kick presented Bradshaw with a chance that he fluffed, but it was ruled offside by the linesman, even though it wasn’t on the replay.

The game continued to be heated with Saville going into the back of Andersen who gives him a gentle slap on the face after. The ref let both go and carried on with the game.

One of Palace’s final chances of the first half fell to Eze, but Saville was there again, this time to get the ball and put it wide for a corner. Viera and the Palace players were screaming for a penalty, but the decision was correct as it was an amazing tackle.

Andersen was involved again, this time with an off-ball coming together with Malone after he thought he was pulled down in the area from the corner kick. Millwall had Andersen rattled and it was lucky it was the end of the first half as the game needed a break or it could have become more heated.

Second Half

The Eagles came out for the second half all guns blazing and within one minute from the kick-off, Olise turned his man inside to curl home Palace’s first goal with his favoured left foot, it hit the post and went in. Millwall fans will argue that the goal would have been disallowed if the FA Cup had VAR in place as Mateta was marginally offside in the run-up to the goal. 

A couple of minutes later and Olise was still causing Millwall havoc down the right side. He had an identical attempt, but this time the ball hit the post and bounced out. Palace was on the front foot still and Olise could have had a hat-trick in the opening 10 minutes of the second half if he’d converted all his chances.

Millwall’s George Saville went off injured after 50 minutes for Maikel Kieftenbeld to replace him in the midfield. This seemed to help Palace’s momentum with Eze getting more of the ball to run at them. He caused Millwall’s Bermondsey boy, Billy Mitchell, to foul him and pick up their first yellow card of the afternoon.

Two minutes later, Olise whipped the ball into the box for the unmarked Mateta to head home, making it 2-1 to Crystal Palace. It appeared to be an easy goal, but hats off to Mateta who wasn’t involved much in the first half.

Mateta started today after the rumours emerged late in the week that his loan deal could be cut short for a permanent move to Saint Etienne from Mainz.

Palace looked comfortable at this stage of the match after the nervy first half and Millwall had to make a change to their formation moving to four at the back. Mason Bennett replaced Alex Pearce and made a difference to the energy of the team.

Two minutes later in the 64th minute, Mateta and Eze were replaced by Edouard and Benteke which looked like it might signal more trouble for Millwall.

However, that wasn’t what happened, Millwall kept pressing Palace and Conor Gallagher even made a couple of wayward passes to gift the ball back to them. It was his first game back after being out with an illness for the previous two matches and it could tell.

Ojo, one of Millwall’s brightest players of the match came off in the 80th minute and made way for Nana Boateng to make his senior debut for the Lions. This was along with two other Millwall substitutes who were going all out to get an equaliser. At the same time, Viera brought off Will Hughes, who didn’t look best pleased, for former captain, Milivojevic.

Millwall kept on the pressure and had a few close chances from crosses down the right side. Mitchell couldn’t get tight enough to stop the crosses. Claims of handball rose when the ball hit Guehi in the box, but it was clearly not a penalty. It just missed Boateng’s foot who would have maybe been offside though.

Jack Butland was booked for time-wasting by Anthony Taylor as he’d been taking his time on multiple occasions. A few straightforward saves came his way in the last 10 minutes and he dealt with them well. Matt Smith who had scored in the FA Cup against Premier League sides (Liverpool and Everton) before saw his header fly straight into Butland’s arms. It needed a lot more power on it to cause him trouble.

Unfortunately, the game was marred from the start by Millwall fans booing the Palace players taking the knee as well as homophobic chants directed at Gallagher.

Both sets of fans were also involved in throwing items onto the pitch such as flares and bottles. This behaviour was condemned by both managers after the game and will no doubt be looked into by the FA.

Crystal Palace Player Ratings

  • Olise – 9
  • Hughes – 7.5
  • Mateta – 7.5
  • Gallagher – 7
  • Eze – 7
  • Schlupp – 7
  • Guehi – 7
  • Andersen – 7
  • Butland – 6
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Match Reports

Crystal Palace vs Southampton Match Report & Highlights

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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

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Match Reports

Crystal Palace vs Wolves Match Report & Highlights

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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

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Match Reports

Leicester vs Crystal Palace Match Report & Highlights

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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

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