Crystal Palace can look up the table – only lack of quality to their finishing denied them a Premier League double over Manchester United

BY SAM SMITH

Only the lack of a clinical finish denied Crystal Palace a first-ever league double over Manchester United. Roy Hodgson’s side have faced criticism for their poor attacking displays recently, but this was a much better showing.

With players returning from injury and only a completely disastrous downturn in form able to drag them into a scrap at the bottom of the table, they can finally look up the Premier League table. That too should allow for the conservative approach to some recent matches that has, in fairness, helped them reach a healthy 34 points by early March, be replaced by a more progressive style.

There had been 140 minutes between Christian Benteke’s stunning winning goal against Brighton and their next shot on target. The Eagles failed to test Fulham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola on Sunday and were lambasted for a performance that was perceived to be too defensively-minded against a team in the relegation zone.

Jordan Ayew powerfully struck at goal to break the barren run without the opposition keeper making a save, but Dean Henderson denied the hosts the chance to score from three successive shots on target across as many matches.

Five points from three tough games, despite scoring just twice, typifies the efficient but often monotonous nature of the football during Hodgson’s tenure. It would be remiss to not mention they have conceded just once in that period.

Ayew’s ferocious effort came during a period when Palace were at their most threatening. A bicycle kick by Benteke flew wide. Andros Townsend rolled an effort the wrong side of the post after Luka Milivojevic’s free-kick had struck the United wall.

Townsend had also set up a chance for Benteke in the opening 10 minutes but the Belgian struck a volley well over the bar.

Patrick van Aanholt had the game’s best opportunity as the clock ticked towards added time. Put through on goal by Milivojevic, the Dutchman took a touch to the right but his effort was denied by the feet of the impressive Henderson.

Had that gone in, there might have been a strong claim for offside – but it encapsulated Palace’s frustration in the final third. The South Londoners have not won a home league match against Man United since 1991 and this was an opportunity to end that run against lacklustre opposition.

But at least it was a more positive display than in previous weeks. This was a contrasting performance to those in matches against Brighton and Fulham when there often seemed an unwillingness to move into the opposition’s final third.

Without Wilfried Zaha, it is natural that there will be games when conservatism is prioritised, but Palace coped well in the absence of their star man against his former club. Most attacks were carved down the right-hand side where Townsend performed well.

Palace had to defend well on occasions and rode their luck. Marcus Rashford – largely kept at bay by Joel Ward – failed to find the target when presented with space on the edge of the penalty area.

Mason Greenwood curled an effort over and Van Aanholt nearly inadvertently deflected a cross into his own net. Palace’s back four were excellent. That might be down to Hodgson finally having a settled quartet.

Behind them, Vicente Guaita had little to do other than to turn a deflected Nemanja Matic strike around the post. Palace were leaking a worrying amount of goals at the start of the year, now they are tight at the back and offer little space.

The often creative Bruno Fernandes found Wednesday a particularly frustrating night, jammed between the Eagles midfield and defence with little room to manoeuvre.

“If the midfield are too high or if the defence is too deep, you create gaps and that’s where you get punished in this league,” said Palace defender Gary Cahill. “There are a lot of clever players and you can see the talent that Man United have got.”

Marrying those defensive qualities with improved attacking displays will bring supporters, disillusioned by recent performances, back onside. Zaha will aid that transition. The forward, sidelined with a hamstring strain, could even make the squad for tomorrow’s visit to Tottenham.

Jeffrey Schlupp featured for the first time on Wednesday since a hamstring injury of his own. His energy and ability to stretch teams in midfield has been missed since he went off in January’s 2-0 win over Sheffield United.

Palace’s next few fixtures are tricky. They host struggling West Brom after tomorrow’s trip to Spurs before facing Everton, Chelsea, Southampton, Leicester and Manchester City.

After a period of conservative performances that has helped them to scrape enough points to climb away from the pack battling for Premier League survival, they can now begin to look up.

STAR MAN
Joel Ward. Nullified the usually influential threat of Marcus Rashford with a confident performance at right-back.

BEST MOMENT
Ayew’s powerful drive just after half-time was Palace’s first shot on target in 140 minutes of football.