Sub Wilf is the late hero after Eze hits target
PATRICK VIEIRA’S touchline celebration proved this was no end-of-season dead rubber
for Crystal Palace’s boss.
Having witnessed Wilfried Zaha come off the bench to score in the closing seconds, the Frenchman could scarcely contain his delight.
OK, it was not quite Jose Mourinho style, but Vieira (right) running and jumping for joy after super sub Zaha sealed a superb fightback showed what it meant to him.
For the first time this season the Eagles had come from behind to win – and with fitagain Eberechi Eze also on the scoresheet it completed a great afternoon for the visitors.
Vieira, whose side are up to 12th with 41 points, said: “I was very happy because I didn’t feel we deserved to be losing at halftime. The last game against Leeds was in our legs and Wilf ’s. The plan was always for him to come on.
“And it’s been a frustrating journey for Ebs after seven months out. He wants to play but today shows he’s now ready to be at his best again.”
The dejected mood of Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl was in total contrast. He was bitterly upset at his side’s failure to hang on after Oriol Romeu’s early opener.
The Austrian said: “They had better subs who made the difference. It’s very hard to take as we can play much better. We lacked quality. We must do more.”
Many had viewed this clash as a personal duel between Saints skipper James Ward-prowse and Palace’s on-loan Chelsea star Conor Gallagher.
Both are banging on that
England door – and the pair could be in direct competition for a place in Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad.
And when, after nine minutes, Ward-prowse produced his fifth assist this term – with a corner that Romeu headed in off the underside of the bar – the hosts seemed in good shape for their second victory in nine games.
Gallagher was busy without being dangerous, while Saints keeper Fraser Forster was called into action only twice, including when he saved Jordan Ayew’s 41st-minute flicked header.
Vieira must have got stuck into his side at the break and on the hour their improvement led to a deserved equaliser when, following a Nathaniel Clyne cross, Eze arrived to score and beat Forster at the near post.
Vieira threw on Zaha but it was Gallagher suddenly causing the problems and he was livid when harshly denied a 68th-minute penalty after being sent tumbling in the box by Romeu.
Saints substitute Stuart Armstrong missed a sitter eight minutes from time before Zaha took centre stage at the death.
He spun on the edge of the area to rifle in his 13th goal this season – and send Vieira and Palace into ecstasy.