STAND & FALL Zaha rejects racism ‘ritual’ then helps bring Baggies to knees
JOHNSTONE
Superb save from Christian Benteke. Cannot be blamed
FURLONG Booked
Senseless handball gave Palace a decisive advantage
O’SHEA
Increasingly looks up to the task, does the simple things well
BARTLEY
Delivered a heartening show, didn’t do much wrong
TOWNSENDCAPTION Energetic ahndedaiscdipleinred. Can be pleased witshthyilseaifntehrneoroen’s work
YOKUSLU Mdiofftemrent
The best ofinalldariffdyecree’snlotan signings; imsptoysleing, knows his job
PHILLIPS
Good battle with Van Aanholt, came out with honours even
GALLAGHER
Consistent pivot at the heart of Baggies’ midfield. Improving
MAITLAND-NILES
Showed good energy, but needed to get involved far more
PEREIRA
Too often on the fringes – didn’t show enough heart or application
DIAGNE
Worked hard enough, but was incapable of making a difference
SUBS:
Snodgrass (Phillips 70) 5, Robson-kanu (Pereira, 63) 5 . SUBS NOT USED:
Button, Ajayi, Robinson, Livermore, Diangana, Peltier, Grant.
WILFRIED ZAHA stood up to be counted – as did Luka Milivojevic – as they chopped Big Sam down to size.
Crystal Palace’s star man Zaha returned from a hamstring injury and made as much of a point before the game as he did during it, by refusing to take the knee.
Zaha took a stand on the pre-match protest that he says has turned into mere “routine”.
And his skipper stuck to his old routine too by firing home the first-half penalty to leave West Brom boss Sam Allardyce wearing a familiar grimace at the final whistle.
Zaha explained: “I feel that kneeling has just become a part of the pre-match routine and at the moment it doesn’t matter whether we kneel or stand, some of us still continue to receive abuse.
“I know there is a lot of work being done behind the scenes at the Premier League and other authorities to make change, and
I fully respect that. I also fully respect my teammates and players at other clubs who continue to take the knee.
“As a society, I feel we should be encouraging better education in schools, and social media companies should be taking stronger action against people who abuse others online – not just footballers.
“I will continue to stand tall.” Palace boss Roy Hodgson said that Palace supported their player’s actions and suggested that he had sympathy with him.
Hodgson said: “Wilf’s statement was very articulate and I think it’s one that all of us are trying to get across. He is not alone in thinking that taking the knee has become a bit of a ritual rather than a statement.
“It’s a chance to show how strongly he disapproves of what’s going on in terms of abuse – and racial abuse in particular. We are behind that.”
Zaha’s public stance was the highlight of the afternoon until he flighted a centre into West Brom’s box from the left shortly after the half-hour mark.
It didn’t attain much height but Darnell Furlong not only motioned towards the ball with his arm, it struck him. Referee Simon Hooper allowed play to go on but was told to look at the incident again by VAR official Mike Dean.
He needed just one viewing before deciding it was worthy of a penalty.
Milivojevic kept his nerve from 12 yards, sending keeper Sam Johnstone the wrong way.
Furlong’s actions played right into the Eagles’ hands. Sitting behind the ball and playing on the break against a team that has averaged less than one goal per game so far this season was always likely to prove decisive.
In fairness to Allardyce’s side, it wasn’t for the want of trying. They created good opportunities time and again – mainly down the left – but genuine chances were few and far between.
The closest they came was when Matt Phillips blazed a volley over early in the second half. For all the huffing and puffing, they never looked like finding a route past Vicente Guaita.
Allardyce said: “We gave away a silly penalty which is a great shame because we created chances – but our finishing wasn’t up to scratch.
“We’ve had 12 attempts on goal but one on target which shows the problem.
“It’s a great shame because of the performances the lads have put together. We have to put our own hands up and say that’s been our downfall.
“We don’t have a natural goalscorer. We don’t have a natural finisher.
“It’s not as if we’re spending all our time defending now. We are hitting better numbers, but it’s not turned into any victories because we are not good enough at finishing our chances.”