‘The benefits come’ – Jean-Philippe Mateta talks through recent Crystal Palace form

BY ANDREW MCSTEEN

Jean-Philippe Mateta believes he is benefiting from a real run in the Crystal Palace starting line-up.

A 97th minute header from Cauley Woodrow saw the Eagles fail to hold on for three points on Saturday as the South London side drew 1-1 with relegation-haunted Luton Town at Selhurst Park.

Having led through an 11th-minute wonder strike from French forward Jean-Philippe Mateta, the home side failed to capitalise on numerous chances and offensive dominance to concede yet another injury-time goal in the Premier League – their 10th of the campaign, the most in the league.

“It’s hard to accept this one because it was in the last minute of the game,” said Mateta about the late equaliser which came from a cross by former Eagle Andros Townsend. “It’s always hard. We needed these three points but we’re going to work hard, come back and win the next game.

“It’s football, we have chances and we didn’t score,” added the striker about two clearcut chances he could not convert after his opening goal. “In the end, we didn’t much manage the game well and conceded, but this is football – we played against a good team.”

Mateta opened the scoring with a sublime back-heel flick from a Daniel Munoz cut back, his fifth Premier League goal of the season.

It equalled the best return from the 6’4” forward in a Premier League campaign since moving to South London on loan in January 2021, before a permanent move a year later and takes his overall tally this season to 12 goal involvements thanks to those five league strikes, plus four assists and a league cup hat-trick, and winning the penalty which sealed a 2-2 draw against Manchester City in December.

“I’m a striker. It’s natural,” explained Mateta about his wonder goal on Saturday. “My guy (Munoz), he kept running, pressing, and I know he’s quick. He cut the ball back and I was just waiting for the cross and finished well.

“It’s football,” he added about his side not being more ruthless to put the game to bed and secure the win. “Sometimes (goals) come like the first half and in the second half they don’t come. We have to keep working to make sure we score and we win the next game.”

Mateta’s previous league best in England was five goals and one assist in the 2021/22 season. This season, the 26-year-old has started all three games under new manager Oliver Glasner, part of a run of starting 13 of the last 14, including 12 league games in a row since that Manchester City draw last year.

This leaves the former Mainz player in no doubt about what is different this time around as he and his team prepare to leave for Spain on Monday for a training camp and friendly match in Marbella.

“The club, the team gives me more confidence. They play me more and the more I play the more confident I am,” he said about his recent form.

“I just keep working. I keep working hard and when you keep working hard, the benefits come.

“It’s good,” he added about the trip to Spain where the Eagles will face Bodo/Glimt in a friendly. “We’re going to work on the details which the gaffer wants for us to do on the pitch.”