Hodgson ‘delighted’ with Tyrick Mitchell after defender nullifies threat of former Real Madrid man

BY SAM SMITH

Roy Hodgson has expressed his delight at Tyrick Mitchell’s performances after the left-back produced another fine display in Crystal Palace’s 2-1 defeat against Everton.

A dislocated shoulder suffered by Patrick van Aanholt has meant that Mitchell, 21, has now started six-consecutive games for the Eagles. It is a run that stretches into the back-end of last season.

Everton’s former Real Madrid midfielder James Rodriguez was largely kept at bay by the Brent-born defender at Selhurst Park, and Hodgson was impressed by the Palace academy graduate.

The Palace boss said: “He [Mitchell] did very well. Rodriguez is obviously a player that has hit the headlines and when you play against Everton, you’re aware of what he’s capable of doing.

“Between him and the midfield players, they kept James reasonably quiet and on the ball, going forward, he was as good as he’s been in previous games.

“His game is being kept at a very high level and one is hoping that with every game he plays, and the experience that gives, it will make him that little bit better. We’re delighted with him and I was delighted with him again today.”

Rodriguez joined the Toffees in the summer and was exceptional in the Merseysiders’ opening two matches – scoring in their 5-2 victory against West Bromwich Albion. He was also key in their 1-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur.

But Hodgson felt that Mitchell, aided by James McArthur and Eberechi Eze, largely nullified the threat of the Colombian.

The 73-year-old continued: “I thought he [Rodriguez] was quiet. I thought we kept him very quiet in the way we approached the game and in the way we played the game.

“He didn’t have a chance to really bring all his skills to bear and, if I were watching the game from [a journalist’s] position, I certainly wouldn’t have picked him out as the man to pay particular attention to from this game.”

Mitchell will likely continue at left-back for a while, with no return date set for Van Aanholt. His next two games are a trip to big-spending Chelsea before the visit to Selhurst of rivals Brighton and Hove Albion.