Adam and Eve it as Tykes are in top two
ADAM ARMSTRONG’S 79th-minute strike sealed a massive away three points to push Barnsley into the early automatic promotion spots.
Sam Winnall had opened the scoring for the visitors but that was cancelled out by a superb equaliser from Preston debutant Aiden McGeady just after the hour.
But Armstrong, who came on in the 62nd minute produced an excellent bit of skill before curling the ball home and sealing the Tykes’ fourth league victory of the season.
Armstrong said: “It’s all crazy at the minute. I came on in the 60th minute I think it was.
“I knew I just had to get in behind them and put my pace to their defenders.
“Conor played an amazing ball over the top and I just gambled. I’ve took a touch past the defender and curled it in, I’m really glad for all of us as it’s a great three points for the team.”
The Championship’s top-scorers had led after 28 minutes when the front two combined – Marley Watkins’ low ball across the six-yard box left Anders Lindegaard stranded and allowed Winnall to score.
McGeady was determined to make it a debut to remember and did so two minutes later. Paul Gallagher laid the ball to the Republic of Ireland international on the edge of the area and McGeady beat one man before lashing the ball home left-footed from 20 yards.
He could have grabbed a second after 72 minutes, when Eoin Doyle slipped him in inside the area, but McGeady sliced his shot.
Barnsley struck decisively on the counter after 79 minutes as Preston debutant Alex Baptiste did not have the pace to live with sub Armstrong, who pinched the ball and lifted it past Lindegaard from 12 yards.
Preston boss Simon Grayson said: “Anybody who has been at the game will see we didn’t deserve to lose.
“It is frustrating and you can understand why everybody is a bit down.
“But you have to keep reminding yourself that we are not far away from turning narrow defeats into draws and hopefully victories.”
Pardew reckons the winger, who flopped at Manchester United, could play for Barcelona or Real Madrid.
And Zaha eased the pressure on Pardew as the Eagles won a league game for the first time this season – and also claimed a maiden victory at The Riverside.
Zaha set up striker Christian Benteke for his first Palace goal since a £27million move from Liverpool last month.
Then, after Daniel Ayala replied for Aitor Karanka’s Boro, Zaha restored the visitors’ lead just two minutes into the second half to inflict a first league defeat in 14 games on the Teessiders.
Pardew, relieved to hang on to unsettled Spurs target Zaha in the transfer window, said: “He didn’t start the last game because of the transfer situation, but he was terrific here.
“He’s very important to us and the chairman made it very clear he wasn’t going to sell him.
“It wasn’t just the goal and assist that I’ve been working on with him – his defensive qualities against George Friend were exceptional.”
But Boro felt they were robbed as referee Neil Swarbrick turned down two penalty appeals late in the game – for handball against Palace skipper Scott Dann and fellow defender Damien Delaney.
Boro boss Karanka said: “Everybody could see that both of them were handball. I don’t need to say anything else, just that we have lost through mistakes.”
Palace struck the first blow after 16 minutes when Zaha was allowed all the time in the world to deliver a right-wing cross and Belgium international Benteke rose above Ayala to send a header beyond keeper Victor Valdes.
The same combination then created a chance for Andros Townsend on his return to the north-east following his £13m exit from Newcastle.
Zaha almost left Friend standing on the right and found Benteke, who laid the ball off for Townsend to force a save from Valdes.
Boro handed Denmark playmaker Viktor Fischer his first league start since a £3.8m summer arrival from Ajax, with Gaston Ramirez given a breather after Uruguay duty.
Without the creativity of Ramirez, Boro failed to threaten until their surprise leveller. When it came after 38 minutes it was from a set-piece – and marked a dramatic change of fortune for Ayala.
Stewart Downing swung in a left-wing corner and the Spaniard produced a towering header that Benteke would have been proud of, with keeper Steve Mandanda only able to get his fingertips to the ball. Boro could have been ahead at half-time after Viktor Fischer had released Alvaro Negredo, whose finish was saved by Mandanda. They were soon punished after the interval. James McArthur slipped the ball inside Friend and Zaha brushed him off to fire home. Downing tried to muster a response with a left-foot scorcher that was narrowly wide before Ben Gibson’s long-range effort was turned over by Mandanda. Ramirez was brought on but was immediately booked for dissent, summing up Boro’s frustration – which grew when Dann handled Downing’s cross and the ball hit Delaney’s arm. On the penalty claims, Pardew added: “These were like no intent, so I think it’s difficult for the referee to call them.’’ MIDDLESBROUGH: CRYSTAL PALACE: PALACE’S NEXT GAME: