Jeffrey Schlupp the saviour again as Crystal Palace defensive crisis deepens

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Jack Rosser @JackRosser_3 December 2019

Jeffrey Schlupp struck with 14 minutes remaining as 10-man Crystal Palace earned a hard-fought 1-0 win over Bournemouth to temporarily move up to fifth in the Premier League table.

Jack Rosser was at Selhurst Park to analyse the key talking points for Palace...

Schlupp the saviour again

Without Bournemouth failing spectacularly to make their advantage count here, Palace were sensing an opportunity to take more than just a point despite having player more than an hour with 10 men.

Wilfried Zaha twice broke clear of the Cherries defence but did not have the numbers up with him to work an effort on Aaron Ramsdale’s goal after Andros Townsend had been withdrawn at the break.

Jordan Ayew too had a go at finding a way through but could do nothing. Palace looked as if they - despite being a man down - were wasting a chance to take a valuable three points at home until Jeffrey Schlupp stood up.

REUTERS

The former Leicester man, sent on here to cover Patrick van Aanholt at left back following his injury, is one of Hodgson’s most trusted lieutenants and is often singled out for praise by the manger for his role in the squad.

He’s perhaps not the most capable at left-back but is certainly sure on his feet going forward. Having despatched a fine finish at Burnley on Saturday, again from the bench, to relieve Palace of the pressure and secure a first win in six games, a fine driving run and finish across Ramsdale here snatched three unlikely points from Bournemouth and perhaps secured a place in the starting XI at Watford this weekend.

REUTERS

Defensive crisis

Roy Hodgson has spent all season cooing about just how blessed he has been with options at centre-back.

With the Palace manager facing shortages up front and either side of the back four, he has barely had to give a second’s thought to his options at the heart of defence, until now.

With Scott Dann and Gary Cahill both sidelined with ankle injuries, the latter having to wait on results of a scan this week to assess the damage done, Mamadou Sakho returned to the fold following his latest injury setback and was reunited with James Tomkins for all of 19 minutes.

The Frenchman was shown a straight red on just his third start of the season after a dangerous flying challenge on Bournemouth’s Adam Smith, leaving Hodgson with just two fit centre-backs.

Action Images via Reuters

While he would usually be able to get away with that for a short while, one of those defenders - Martin Kelly - is already having to cover for Joel Ward at right-back, with the ex-Portsmouth full- back out until the new year with a serious knee problem.

Dependence on Van Aanholt strikes

Just as with Joel Ward on the right hand side, Palace have been so dependent on left-back Van Aanholt this season.

REUTERS/David Klein

The Dutchman is the only senior left-back in Hodgson’s squad and had played every minute in the Premier League before hobbling off in the first half here with what looked a hamstring issue.

Asked this week whether there was any concern over something like this happening given the reliance on Van Aanholt, Hodgson said: “This is an area which I don't really subscribe to. I'm from a time when football was played and there was no question of people discussing strain or pressure.

“The players that have signed up have signed up for 38 League matches, cup matches and then if they're internationals they've signed up for about 60 games a year. They expect to play 60 games a year, they don't expect to be rested or people to feel sorry for them because they have got to play twice in three days.

“As far as I am concerned Patrick van Aanholt is a very fit boy who looks after himself quite well, I never really give it much thought about him being under strain or pressure.”

His performances might not have dropped but the strain placed on an international has finally tolled for Palace, with injuries to both their full-backs ahead of a packed festive period adding making a run of games which looked fairly comfortable far more complicated.

Palace reaping rewards of easier run

Getty Images

Hodgson last week bemoaned the fact that, despite five strong performances, his side had only managed one point from a run of games against some of the League’s best.

A draw at the Emirates was the only occasion to bear fruit from a run of games against Manchester City, Arsenal, Leicester, Chelsea and Liverpool which ended last month and the Palace manager was keen to ensure performance levels did not drop when the fixture list became kinder.

Here his Palace side may not have put on a dazzling display but they showed buckets of character and commitment to survive a man down for so long and make it back-to-back Premier League wins.

They will head to bottom of the table Watford brimming with confidence on Saturday.

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