TOO GOOD TO SUB
<M<IP B@:B# <M<IP >F8C# Roy defends ‘menace’ Zaha
ROY HODGSON admits Wilfried Zaha is just too good to take off.
Wound up by the Bournemouth boo boys, Zaha was at his destructive best, topping his display off with what looked to be the winner.
Zaha was on the receiving end of some stick from his team-mates for overplaying, but Hodgson admitted he was too good to take off.
The former England boss said: “He’s a good player and the fact is if you’re playing against Wilf Zaha, you can never relax.
“You’ve always got to be worried and he was a constant menace to the Bournemouth defence.
“If I’d taken him off the field, there would have been a collective sigh of relief from the Bournemouth defence.
“He has no problems with his team-mates; he’s a very popular member of the team.
“Some of those reactions I won’t notice because I’m following the ball and making certain we’re defending it properly.
“He’s very skilful. He’s a very, very good player, and he almost won us the game with that excellent goal.
Drilled
“But it didn’t turn out to be the winner because in the last minutes we conceded from a corner.”
Relegation battlers Palace took the lead through captain Luka Milivojevic’s free kick just after half-time, but were pegged back when Bournemouth sub Lys Mousset drilled home.
Zaha danced past Dan Gosling, Cruyffturned Ryan Fraser and then beat keeper Asmir Begovic with a deflected shot in the 75th minute.
But the Cherries hit back when Josh King prodded in at the back post from Fraser’s corner.
It was the seventh time this season they have scored in the 89th minute or later.
Boss Eddie Howe said: “There is never a dull moment. It’s not good for my health and I’m sure it’s the same for the supporters.”
Midfielder Lewis Cook had a scuffle with Zaha which saw him dragged along the floor.
Cook said: “Neither of us meant anything by it, we just shrugged it off and shook hands after. He is a top, top player.
“He has got all sorts in his locker. He will pop up anywhere and you just have to try your best to stop him.” BOURNEMOUTH (4-4-1-1): BEGOVIC 8; Francis 6, 6, S Cook 5, Ake Daniels 6; Fraser 7, L 80), Cook 6 (Surman Gosling 6, Pugh 5 (Mousset Defoe 6; 62, 6); Wilson 6 (King 62, 5). Boruc, Subs: Simpson, Smith, Taylor. UP NEXT: Liverpool (a), Premier League, Saturday CRYSTAL PALACE (4-3-3): Hennessey 6; Wan-Bissaka Tomkins 6, 5, Sakho 6, Van Aanholt Cabaye 5, 6; Milivojevic 6, McArthur Townsend 6; 6, ZAHA 7, Loftus-Cheek Subs: Cavalieri, 5. Chung-Yong, Souare, Fosu-Mensah, Kelly, Daly, Riedewald. UP NEXT: Brighton (h), Premier League, Saturday Referee: Jon Moss 8 YOUR TURN: Which defender netted his only away goal of the campaign to open the scoring in Palace’s 2-0 win at Bournemouth last season?