Adam Sells match verdict: No substitute for class as Crystal Palace turn EFL Cup tie on head with Eze, Schlupp and Ayew introduction

BY ADAM SELLS AT HOME PARK

Crystal Palace left Home Park in the hat for the EFL Cup third round draw, though few present would have thought they would progress for the best part of Tuesday night’s game.

This was a rip-roaring tie absolutely bursting with goals and talking points after the visitors overturned a two-goal deficit in spectacular fashion to run out winners.

It was fantastic entertainment in front of a sell-out home crowd, with plots and sub-plots galore that perhaps left more questions than answers.

Palace progression looked so unlikely when Wolves loanee Matt Cundle magnificently curled the ball beyond Sam Johnstone to double Plymouth Argyle’s lead just 30 seconds into the second half.

Johnstone was one of only four Palace players to retain his place after last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Brentford and had already had to retrieve the ball from the back of his net inside the opening six minutes, after the impressive Ben Waine hooked home from close range.

The seven changes certainly affected Roy Hodgson’s Eagles. Defensively they looked uneasy, though at times the Eagles’ attacking play was neat, tidy and created chances. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi made an impression but, in the main, Hodgson’s team lacked urgency.

Steven Schumacher’s Plymouth, on the other hand, were slick, quick and purposeful. There were one or two moments when the visitors could have found themselves further adrift before the interval.

The game turned eight minutes into the second half as Hodgson withdrew Rak-Sakyi, Naouirou Ahamada and Jairo Riedewald – sending on Jordan Ayew, Eberechi Eze and Jeffrey Schlupp.

At this point, the home fans were revelling in the two-goal margin, with continual taunts in respect of their opponents’ Premier League status. How things can change quickly in football. Within five minutes, following good work from Eze and a sumptuous outswinging cross from Ayew, Odsonne Edouard stabbed home on the volley at the far post to reduce the arrears.

That was just the start needed. Within four minutes Palace were ahead. First, following more great work from the irrepressible Eze, who wriggled along the byline to enable Jean-Philippe Mateta to force the ball home from three yards.

Mateta, who could at this point perhaps have counted himself a little fortunate not to have been one of the three changes made by his boss, then finished with aplomb a minute later after being slipped in by another substitute Schlupp.

With chances now coming thick and fast, Schumacher made a triple substitution of his own, introducing Bali Mumba, Finn Azaz and Morgan Whittaker.

Plymouth found a second wind and Waine forced Johnstone into a flying save to deny the striker a second goal that would have been a carbon copy of Cundle’s strike.

Jefferson Lerma was forced to make a superbly-timed lunge in the box to keep his team’s lead intact before Palace could put some daylight between the two sides.

Ryan Hardie was sent on next as the home team went all out for an equaliser but then Mateta was sent through by the unplayable Eze and drilled the ball past Callum Burton to be left requesting the matchball from referee Dean Whitestone on the final whistle.

So, what about Mateta? Will his hat-trick force a rethink, with the Frenchman is seemingly set to depart SE25 before the close of Friday’s transfer window?

What was abundantly clear, prior to the changes, is that Palace’s squad still needs reinforcement if they are to improve this season.

More options and cover in the full-back area and most importantly attack is a must. This game showed the benefit of bringing on game-changers, something Hodgson has not had the luxury of being able to do in the Premier League.

There are injuries to key players. But realistically throughout a season it is likely through injury or suspension a manager can only call on 20 of a 25-man squad on a regular basis.

One would guess it was the perfect night for the Palace boss. His team came away with the victory, but it was made abundantly clear to those conducting the transfer business, there are solutions that still need to be found.

This night proved it. There is no substitute for quality.

STAR MAN
Eberechi Eze. Turned the game on its head.

BEST MOMENT
Mateta’s first-time finish for what proved to be the winning goal.