Crystal Palace 0 – 1 Leicester City

Review by William George Eldridge

It was very much a side low on confidence and ideas against a top team in search of domestic glory. Pardew’s Palace, on the back of their recent cup exploits were looking to create an upset against the fairytale club of the season, Leicester City. Standing in the way of the Foxes was a Palace side that hadn’t won in the Premier League since December, but their threat at King Power Stadium back in October proved to be considerable – only a well-taken goal from Vardy separated the two sides on that day.

It was the hosts who carved out the first opportunity of the game, as forward Yannick Bolasie turned on the edge of the box and forced Kasper Schmeichel into a comfortable low save with three minutes gone. Shinji Okazaki, who scored a superb overhead kick against Newcastle last time out, next saw his deflected cross bounce up off Eagles skipper Mile Jedinak and fly just past the head of Mahrez on nine minutes.

Mahrez had a huge opportunity to open the scoring shortly after as Drinkwater’s perfectly-weighted, first-time pass found the Algeria international, who saw his shot saved by the legs of Wayne Hennessey – Scott Dann eventually clearing to loose ball. The lively Bolasie saw another two attempts halted within quick succession, with skipper Wes Morgan and Drinkwater the men to get their bodies in the way of the Congolese attacker as the first half passed its midway point.

Bolasie turned provider just moments later, whipping in a cross to Wilfried Zaha at the back post. The former Manchester United man couldn’t direct his effort on target as Palace began to gain a foothold in the game. A downwards header from Bolasie then narrowly avoided the lurking Jedinak in the City box, before City’s persistence at the other end finally paid off.

Mahrez’s initial corner was cleared to Drinkwater, who slipped in Vardy down the left channel. The England international dropped his shoulder before firing across goal to find Mahrez, who calmly side-footed in for his 17th Premier League goal of the campaign.

Palace responded well and forced Schmeichel into another stop as Bolasie’s low drive deflected off Morgan – the Denmark international stopper doing well to save with his legs. The Foxes continued to cause havoc from the flanks, with Marc Albrighton this time cutting in from the left before drilling an effort towards goal that Hennessey did well to palm away.

City carried their 1-0 lead into the break and carried their momentum into the second period, as Okazaki came just inches away from rattling in from inside the box. Palace were much improved in the second period and began to pepper Schmeichel’s box with crosses, but City defended resolutely to keep the opposition attackers at bay. Schmeichel was too on hand to smother substitute Martin Kelly’s dangerous delivery, before holding Bakary Sako’s goal-bound effort just moments later.

City had a penalty shout on 80 minutes as Robert Huth had his shirt pulled off his back by Scott Dann, but nothing was given, and Fuchs saw a drive from 20 yards blocked. Schmeichel again punched away from Sako, while Cabaye saw his long-range strike deflect behind off fellow Frenchman N’Golo Kanté with six minutes to play.

City’s counter attacking has served them well this campaign and Vardy nearly benefitted again on 87 minutes. City’s No.9 darted through the middle and was only denied an effort on target thanks to a brilliant last-ditch challenge from Delaney. Delaney then hammered an effort onto the bar from Dann’s knock-down in injury time as Palace looked for an equaliser, but another sterling defensive display ensured Ranieri’s Foxes would leave Selhurst with all 6 points.

Despite the Cup heroics, Palace are seriously considering the situation they’ve found themselves in and as each game passes with no points being earnt, it’s slowly becoming a nervy place down at Selhurst.

Source: casino.com