‘It feels like a loss’ – Nathaniel Clyne on Crystal Palace’s draw with arch-rivals Brighton

BY ANDREW MCSTEEN

Crystal Palace’s Nathaniel Clyne has admitted that Danny Welbeck’s 82nd minute equalising header for Brighton at Selhurst Park on Thursday night felt like a sucker punch for the men from SE25.

“Definitely a loss for us,” he told the South London Press when asked what the feeling was in the Eagles’ changing following the 1-1 draw.

“We were disappointed that we didn’t hold on in the end. We were better in the first half, we played well, but in the second half they came into the game and got a foothold. They scored a bit of a worldie of a goal, really. In the top corner. It was very difficult for us to take, but we’ll take the point and move on to the next game.”

Jordan Ayew’s header in first half additional time had put the home side one up, his goal coming at the end of a spell of Palace pressure which had seen Jean-Philippe Mateta and a number of his teammates unable to convert chances.

The second half saw Brighton come out stronger, but substitute Ebere Eze should have doubled the Eagles’ lead in the 77th minute after being set-up by Mateta, but took too long, allowing the visitors to clear.

A few minutes later Eze’s poor clearance then allowed Brighton to win back possession, the ball eventually getting to Pascal Gross, whose inch-perfect cross allowed Welbeck to head home and make for some nervy home fans in the closing minutes.

“On another day, we probably would have taken that chance to make it 2-0, but it didn’t happen for us,” said Clyne about Eze’s opportunity late on.

“The performance levels are there, the energy levels are there, we just have to be more clinical in front of goal and create more chances, more opportunities to score goals.

“We need to keep putting on performances like we did in the first half, wrapping up the game and trying to keep a clean sheet. All of those come into factors in the game. We’ll be working hard in training to do that and then replicate it on a match day.

“The performances have been good. We just haven’t been credited with the win. We’ll keep on. We’ll keep pushing and work hard in training and, hopefully, the wins will come in the next games and in the future.”

With nearly a starting 11 out through injury in recent weeks, the Eagles saw some positive news against Brighton with midfielder Jefferson Lerma returning for his first start since picking up a knock against Liverpool on 9 December and substitute Ebere Eze playing 20 minutes in just his second appearance since going off injured against Luton on 25 November.

It was also the second full 90 minutes in a row for goalkeeper Dean Henderson who has been nursing a long-term injury, picked up on his Palace debut back in September.

“He’s come back from injury and he’s hit form straight away. You can see with the saves that he made today and also in the last game,” said Clyne about the 26-year-old shot-stopper. Compliments to him and also hopefully we can give him a clean sheet next game.

“It’s definitely a boost for us,” he added about Lerma and Eze returning to action. “We know how good Jefferson and Ebs are – they are quality players for us and hopefully we can get them [both] to start the next game and we can get a win.”

With recent injuries to both starting full-backs in Tyrick Mitchell first, then captain Joel Ward, it has presented Clyne with an opportunity to play in the previous four games, starting the last three.

This has been his longest run in the first team since March and the 32-year-old Stockwell-born full-back is hoping it is the start of more to come.

“That’s why we have a full squad of 23 players,” says Clyne, who made his 205th appearance for the Eagles on Thursday.

“You know, when players come out injured, you’ve got players to come in and fill the spot and it gives them the opportunity to show what they’re capable of; it’s just about giving everyone opportunities and hopefully the players that can come in can do well.

“I’m feeling good,” he added. “I’m getting a run of games at the moment which is good. I’m getting my confidence back onto the field and hopefully I can cement myself in the team and play as many games as I can possibly.”

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD