Patrick Vieira was keen to improve on Crystal Palace’s 12th place finish in the Premier League last term, but it had been a difficult start to this campaign for the Frenchman. Losses against Arsenal, Man City and Chelsea were expected, but now eight games in, the grey clouds have cleared and Palace finally have their second win of the season.
A 2-1 victory over Leeds at Selhurst Park saw the best and worst of this Palace side. For the opening 20 minutes, they were absolutely shambolic at the back. Leeds carved them open time and time again and the home crowd grew more and more frustrated.
But this is still an exciting young squad that is now beginning to feel like Vieira’s rather than Roy Hodgson’s. Against Leeds, Ebere Eze and Michael Olise started as part of a midfield three, with Jordan Ayew, Wilfried Zaha and Odsonne Eduard up front. Palace fans can see on paper that this is an incredibly attacking and aggressive XI, but for the majority of the first half they were outplayed and penned in by Leeds.
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Brenden Aaronson weaved and wiggled his way past several Palace defenders before his left-footed strike hit the post. Fortunately for Leeds it came out to Pascal Strujik who found the net with a simple finish and boos filled Selhurst Park as Palace failed to clear soon after.
Leeds should have gone two up after their dominant start as Bamford missed a one on one as he stabbed a left foot at a shot from close range. But Vieira’s side haven’t lost the will to fight that defined them under Hodgson. Even after a shocking start, they somehow found a way to compose themselves and secure their second win of the season.
Vieira, having chucked all his attacking talent in from the start, is clearly well aware of just how good his young midfield duo in particular are. Getting the best out of them without compensating in defence is the key, but Olise and Eze helped turn this game around in style.
First Olise whipped in a stunning ball from a wide free-kick and Odsonne Eduoard headed home to get Palace level. Then, as they found their feet in the second half, it was a moment of magic that won the match.
Zaha cleverly flicked the ball onto Eze and the 24-year-old took a touch past a Leeds defender before firing the ball into the corner. It’s his first goal of the season but the London boy with bags of talent is one of the most exciting flair players in the Premier League.
There are still clear defensive issues for Palace to solve and they are highlighted when they come up against some of the better sides in the division. But if you have a trio of Eze, Olise and Zaha in your side you are always going to be able to score goals. Today that individual ability was enough for Vieira and the vocal home fans were left delighted with the turnaround.
Hodgson was the safest pair of hands around for the south London club. But Vieira is bringing the spark back, bit by bit. Having already played four of the ‘big six’, Palace now have a great run of fixtures heading into the World Cup. It’s where we should see the best of them as their attacking stars can begin to influence games, and they can get on the front foot.
It’s how the Eagles need to play. Their back-line can be exposed, but with their attacking potential, they can beat any side in the league on the right day. So how far can Vieira take them? Well, another 12th place finish would be respectable, but he will have his eye on the top half. Next season, once he makes more signings like Joachim Anderson at the back, they can even begin to dream of European football.
