Goals – or rather the distinct lack of them – impeding Patrick Vieira’s plans to evolve new Crystal Palace approach

It’s all well and good creating chances, having possession and playing the ball around with an elegance that is pleasing to the eye, but football lives and dies by goals – something which Crystal Palace are struggling to achieve.

While pre-season saw Patrick Vieira’s side score with free-flowing attacking confidence that whetted the appetite ahead of the new Premier League year, they have capitulated in front of goal as soon as the competitive campaign has rolled around.

The start against Chelsea was always a free hit – Palace are not in the same category as the reigning European champions.

But the next two games have been a damning indictment of the Eagles’ forward line.

From the 11 chances that the Eagles carved out on Tuesday night in their 1-0 EFL Cup loss to Watford, there was little conviction in their forward’s finishing ability to put Vieira’s side ahead.

Jean-Philippe Mateta was handed an opportunity to show that he has the ability to be the primary source of goals, with the 24-year-old coming up against an unfamiliar Watford defence. Ever since the Frenchman scored the opener at Brighton’s Amex Stadium with a sublime backheel, the loan signing from Mainz has found his minutes on the pitch scarce.

Mateta started the game brightly against Watford. He did well to rob the ball from William Troost-Ekong on the edge of the area before driving into the box and forcing a smart save from Ben Foster.

His second chance should have put Palace ahead. After some sharp work down the right-hand side between Jordan Ayew and Conor Gallagher, the latter played a pinpoint cross over Foster that was practically landing on the goal-line, begging for a touch into the back of the net. Mateta headed the ball straight at Troost-Ekong when either side of the bewildered defender would have given Palace the lead.

While Mateta had one more chance before the half-time whistle, making Foster tip his header over the bar, the finishing touch was missing on Tuesday evening.

After Vieira admitted that Christian Benteke was “isolated” during the Brentford game, at least Mateta was being fed the chances to score against Watford.

The style of play was encouraging and yielded a similar enthusiasm to dominate the ball, but, unlike pre-season, the Eagles failed to kill off the game.

The duo of Joachim Andersen and Marc Guehi once again flourished alongside each other.

In an unnatural back four that saw the pair next to James Tomkins at right-back and Joel Ward at left-back, Guehi and

Andersen marshalled Palace’s backline to only allow one shot on target until the 85th minute.

The centre-back partnership of Andersen and Guehi allows for Vieira’s tactics to be executed.

Recording 227 passes on Tuesday night, with both achieving a success rate of more than 89 per cent, Andersen and Guehi would put Palace on the attack.

Conor Gallagher demonstrated his bite and tenacity in his second start, and he could have had his first assist for the club if Mateta had directed his header towards goal.

Cheikhou Kouyate is still adapting to his surroundings in the heart of the side after spending over a season at centre-back, and Jeffrey Schlupp was bursting forward from his central position to offer Palace another option going forward.

Watford grew into the game with the introduction of Emmanuel Dennis, who injected an attacking spark into their forward play.

Jack Butland, who was given a chance to impress ahead of regular number one Vicente Guaita, displayed his excellent reflexes to deny Troost-Ekong’s powerful header in the second half.

Despite his resolute performance, Butland could do nothing to prevent Ashley Fletcher from putting Watford into the next round in the 86th minute when he peeled away from Tyrick Mitchell at the back post and slotted home the winner.

It’s still early days, and the style of football Palace produced on Tuesday night was encouraging. But without goals, Palace’s start to the season will continue to be an uphill battle.

STAR MAN
Joachim Andersen. Won three aerial battles, completed 114 passes – with a success rate of 89 per cent.

BEST MOMENT
Mateta’s first chance. Although the forward failed to find the back of the net, it wasn’t for lack of trying. He showed intelligence to steal the ball away from William Troost-Ekong and carved out his own chance from a tight angle. He just needs confidence.