Eze and Schlupp’s introduction the catalyst for Crystal Palace to see off Oxford United

BY ADAM SELLS

Crystal Palace eventually navigated their way into the third round of the EFL Cup at the Kassam Stadium on Tuesday evening, though it took Patrick Vieira’s changes from the bench in order for his team to take control of the tie against League One opposition.

The Eagles boss decided to make nine changes from the side that turned in one of Palace’s best ever attacking Premier League displays three days before – a 3-1 victory over Aston Villa – and it showed, as they laboured for the best part of an hour, before their class finally told.

Oxford also made a number of changes too, with United manager Karl Robinson dealing with a long injury list that severely dented their prospects of causing a cup upset.

Although Robinson’s men were competitive in the game, they were only able to test debutant goalkeeper Sam Johnstone once, on the stroke of half-time, when the England international beat Cameron Brannagan’s drilled effort away to ensure his first clean sheet for the club.

Johnstone was not the only Palace new boy as Patrick Vieira handed starts to Kaden Rodney at full back and Killian Phillips in midfield, though one could not help but sympathise with both youngsters as their opportunity was somewhat hindered in a very disjointed hour.

Rodney, an excellent young right-back was surprisingly deployed on the left hand side, while the vastly experienced Nathaniel Clyne, who has filled the role on the left-side numerous times, played on his natural side.

Rodney experienced a few uneasy moments during the first quarter as the rampaging runs of the home side’s powerful James Golding threatened in front of the away fans.

The imbalance in midfield was the real issue for Palace until the changes were made. It is clearly difficult for any manager who is keen to get minutes for players who have not found themselves starting matches, but it often leads to many being shoehorned into the team and the dynamic suffering.

This was certainly the case here. Luka Miliviojevic was more than comfortable in his familiar role in front of the back four, but Will Hughes and Phillips also seem better suited for the same. With both being asked to provide an attacking threat, Palace struggled to find any fluency in the way that Eberechi Eze and Jeffrey Schlupp had done so effectively the previous weekend when Vieira’s side created enough opportunities to have hit double figures against Villa.

The introduction of Eze and Schlupp in midweek turned the game in the away team’s favour.

Both, along with Tyrick Mitchell, entered the fray during the third quarter of the game at the expense of the two debutants and the disappointing Jean-Philippe Mateta, who after scoring at the weekend would no doubt have been frustrated at the lack of chances created in his first start of the season.

It was Schlupp’s energy and driving runs that sparked the South Londoners into life. His clever and perfectly-weighted pass allowed Odsonne Edouard to slip the ball past the onrushing keeper Ed McGinty with aplomb to give Palace a 71st-minute lead.

Now, with Eze and Schlupp pulling the strings and the further introduction of Malcolm Ebiowei and Jordan Ayew for Edouard and Michael Olise, Palace were in the ascendancy.

Ayew was deployed in the number nine role during his lively 15- minute cameo, one which he often filled effectively under previous boss Roy Hodgson. The Ghanian earned his side an 89th-minute penalty, wriggling free in the box before being tripped.

Palace’s previous penalty specialist Miliviojevic, on duty with Wilfried Zaha rested, stepped forward to score emphatically.

With the upcoming winter World Cup, this strange stop-start season sees the third round ties not scheduled until the early part of November.

Vieira will need to ensure that the next team he fields in this competition has the ingredients to overcome sterner tests than this. Round pegs in round holes, square pegs in square holes and all that.

STAR MAN
Jeffrey Schlupp. His introduction turned the tie.

BEST MOMENT
Schlupp’s clever pass for the first goal.