Four takeaways from Crystal Palace’s 3-1 win over Aston Villa – Vieira’s side produce complete performance as Zaha closes in on a century

A double from Wilfried Zaha and a second-half strike from Jean-Philippe Mateta cancelled out Ollie Watkins’ early opener to give Patrick Vieira’s side their first win of the 2022-23 Premier League campaign.

Here are Edmund Brack’s four takeaways from the match:

WILFRIED ZAHA – THE KING OF SELHURST PARK

I expect Matty Cash woke up midway through Saturday night in a cold sweat and having nightmares about the first 45 minutes Wilfried Zaha put him through at Selhurst Park.

The Ivorian academy graduate marked his 450th club appearance in professional football with a performance to remember.

It was a classic Zaha showing – full of grit, determination, and ruthlessness in front of goal, which he has cultivated over the past year.

With only Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, 15, having more goals than Zaha, 12, this calendar year, the 29-year-old has developed into a clinical and reliable goalscorer for the club.

While he was unable to bury his 58th-minute penalty past Villa’s Argentine goalkeeper, Zaha followed up the rebound and, at the second time of asking, doubled Palace’s lead.

He was handed a standing ovation for his contributions on Saturday when Luka Milivojevic replaced him in the 82nd minute.

The countdown to 100 Crystal Palace goals is on for Zaha, just the 14 more needed to reach a milestone he richly deserves.

He now has more Premier League goals than David Beckham, Robert Pires and Yaya Toure.

EZE IN FULL FLIGHT IS A JOY TO BEHOLD

The 24-year-old is getting back to his fluid best.

If a defender gives him space, Eze is gliding into it while keeping the ball under his full control, then luring the opposition into his surroundings and using his turn of pace to burst away and towards goal.

Greenwich-born playmaker Eze – whose return from a ruptured Achilles injury saw him make his first start in the Premier League last season in April – was the main catalyst for all of the good work Palace’s attacking force produced on Saturday.

He created three chances – a match-high – had the most successful dribbles of any player, six, and had the best passing accuracy, 92 per cent, of any player on the pitch.

Eze has completed more take-ons. 14, than any other player in the Premier League this season.

It was, without doubt, his best performance under Vieira.

EDOUARD VS MATETA BATTLE – 1-0 MATETA

It’s now advantage to Jean-Philippe Mateta in the battle to earn the right to claim the starting centre-forward spot in Vieira’s side.

The former Mainz forward showed Odsonne Edouard how to take his chances with his first effort after coming on as a substitute in the 70th minute on Saturday.

While Edouard bagged himself an assist on Saturday for Zaha’s excellent solo effort, the former Celtic man missed a big chance against Arsenal during the first game of the season and has struggled to lead the line in the top-flight.

Although Edouard clearly has talent, links the play better than Mateta, and has demonstrated a shrewd eye for goal in the past, he is struggling for confidence in the Premier League.

Mateta has a chaos factor about his style of play that seems to have clicked in this side since the turn of the year, and he took his chance in the 71st minute without hesitation.

Gambling at the front post, Mateta latched onto Tyrick Mitchell’s devilish cross and placed his effort past Martinez to wrap up all three points.

A FEW ADDED TOUCHES COULD SPARK SOMETHING SPECIAL

Steven Gerrard’s side was poor – there is no hiding from that – but Palace allowed them to stay in the game for much longer than they deserved. 

But what has been evident from Patrick Vieira’s Crystal palace side during his reign so far is that they can give anyone a game on their day.

There is an unpredictable aspect with players who can create moments of magic and a staunch defensive solidity that is the base of the side. However, there is room for one or two more additions to complete the squad.

The height lost through the departures of 6ft three pair Cheikhou Kouyate and Christian Benteke has depleted the aerial presence of the side, and there has yet to be a replacement brought in for Conor Gallagher.

With Villa having the ability to call upon Danny Ings from the bench and start with Ollie Watkins, you have only to wonder what Palace’s potential could be with another clinical forward to carry the goalscoring burden alongside Wilfried Zaha.

Another forward signing who can play anywhere along the front three and one more central midfielder added to the ranks before the transfer deadline will hand Patrick Vieira the squad depth and formation flexibility to build on all of the work from last season.

PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD