SUPERSTAR ZAHA INSISTS HE’LL BE BACK FOR
FOR Wilfried Zaha, the question is obvious. Was this matchwinning goal a final farewell or a taste of more to come? Once again for Roy Hodgson, Zaha was his side’s biggest menace, the difference between the two teams. There may not be a single player more integral to his side’s fortunes. When Zaha, 25, plays, Palace sparkle. On the 10 occasions Zaha has not started Premier League games, his team have lost. Palace hold the aces. Zaha is a local boy and has four years left on his deal. ‘I have no plans on leaving,’ said the forward. ‘You can see how much I’m enjoying it. This is my home and there’s no reason for me to leave.’ Hodgson added: ‘Wilf knows how we value him as a player and a person, a Croydon lad who has dedicated his career to Palace. He has a long-term contract, is one of our best-paid players, and he knows full well the last thing on anyone’s mind here is letting him go.’ For the hosts, this day had the sense of celebration even before Zaha set the ball rolling with his 70th-minute goal. Hodgson strutted down the touchline before the match, applauding the support. As the game played out, the love-in intensified. Fans sang that Hodgson is one of their own. Banners were unfurled, declaring Hodgson as ‘Sir Roy of Croydon’. What a job he has done. Palace were accelerating towards Premier League oblivion. When they were on a second manager by the second week of September with seven defeats in seven games and not a goal to their name, the situation was desperate. Instead, they end the season a hair’s breadth from the top half of the table. As for West Brom, fans continue to wonder whether a mighty feat of escapology may have been achieved if Darren Moore had been appointed earlier. His six-match sequence as caretaker manager does not end unbeaten after this result but pride, at least, has been restored. As the club prevaricate over their decision — Brentford’s Dean Smith is under consideration — Moore does not know whether he will remain in place. To Moore’s credit, his players did go over to the club’s support on the final whistle, handing them their shirts and taking time to applaud their loyalty. Moore would not be drawn on his future, saying: ‘It would be wrong for me to speak about Darren Moore now. It’s been an honour for me, and I’m pleased with the way we’ve responded: there’s been a real togetherness about everyone.’ After drawing so much from his
players until now, the limitations of this poor West Brom side were exposed. Palace were superior, passing with the greater sharpness and creating the clearer opportunities. Luka Milivojevic weaved past the West Brom midfield in the first half and dispatched a searing strike that flew wide. After the break, Palace stepped up the tempo. Ruben LoftusCheek should have scored but found the gloves of Ben Foster and Zaha shot wide. Zaha then sprinted clear, picking a perfect pass for Andros Townsend, who skewed wide with only Foster to beat. Zaha’s moment finally came. Loftus-Cheek released Patrick van Aanholt, who skipped his way to the byline before crossing for Zaha to steer home. The second saw one-touch play between Yohan Cabaye, LoftusCheek and Townsend prior to the ball being fed through for Van Aanholt, who danced around Foster to seal the win.
CRYSTAL PALACE (4-3-3): Hennessey 6; Wan-Bissaka 6.5, Tomkins 6, Sakho 7, Van Aanholt 7.5 (Soure 82min); Milivojevic 7, McArthur 6.5 (Benteke 68, 6.5), Cabaye 7; Townsend 6.5 (Lee 85), Loftus-Cheek 7, ZAHA 8. Subs not used: Speroni, Schlupp, Kelly, Riedewald. Scorers: Zaha 70, Van Aanholt 78. Booked: Tomkins, McArthur. Manager: Roy Hodgson 8. WEST BROM (4-3-3): Foster 7; Nyom 5.5, Hegazi 5, Dawson 5.5, Gibbs 5.5; Livermore 6, Krychowiak 6 (Chadli 62, 5.5), Brunt 6; McClean 5.5, Rondon 5 (Robson-Kanu 71, 5.5), Rodriguez 6 (Sturridge 73, 5.5) Subs not used: Myhill, Burke, McAuley, Leko. Booked: Dawson, Gibbs, Brunt. Manager: Darren Moore 6. Referee: Jon Moss 6.5. Attendance: 25,357