Where would Palace be without star ZAHA
Talisman leads rout of Leicester to leave Hodgson one win away from Premier League survival
AT FULL TIME, the celebrations at Selhurst Park were those of a club that know their Premier League status is all but assured. There were handshakes, hugs, pats on backs.
A few fans decided to bow in the direction of Wilfried Zaha too, and who can blame them? The 25-year-old forward truly is the prince of Crystal Palace.
Zaha scored, then assisted, then was rugby-tackled in a one-onone situation that led to a red card for Marc Albrighton and a final nail in the coffin for Leicester.
Where would Palace be without Zaha? Quite possibly, preparing themselves for the Championship. Instead, another season in the Premier League awaits.
This was Palace’s biggest win in the top division since 1972 when they beat Manchester United 5-0 and they had five separate scorers here. Zaha, James McArthur, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Patrick van Aanholt and Christian Benteke — yes, even him — all got in on the act for the Eagles.
They may not be mathematically safe but Hodgson knows it would take something special for them to collapse now. ‘It’s [still] dangerous, I suppose,’ he said.
‘ Miracles do happen. We are probably on the cusp of one ourselves. On the other hand, it irritates me to hear managers harping on about mathematical possi- bilities. So many things would have to happen.’
Hodgson’s miracle work has transformed a team that started the season by losing their opening seven games, all without scoring. He deserves the highest credit for this. ‘There’s only one Roy Hodgson,’ the fans sang. The Croydon boy, now 70, came in and gave them a fighting chance.
What we also learned is that Leicester under Claude Puel are clueless. This was embarrassing from the former champions.
‘We tried to come back but we conceded goals in the last 10 minutes, a catastrophe in the last few minutes,’ said the manager. ‘It is important to stay together. It is tough. The speculation about me and my future is not important.’
It could have been worse than 5-0 too. Palace thought they had scored when visiting goalkeeper Ben Hamer tried to punch a corner clear but instead skewed the ball t o James Tomkins. His header was on target but Kelechi Iheanacho cleared off the line. Then it was Leicester’s turn. Jamie Vardy’s shot beat Wayne Hennessey but not Joel Ward, who also cleared off the line.
Vardy was left with head in hands and so was Puel moments later as Palace scored a goal that would not have looked out of place at the Nou Camp.
In front of watching England boss Gareth Southgate, midfielder Loftus-Cheek nutmegged Riyad Mahrez then fed Yohan Cabaye. Cabaye in turn found McArthur, who back-heeled the ball to Zaha and the Palace talisman thumped it into the back of the net.
Shortly before half- time, it became 2-0 and this time Zaha turned provider. He passed to
McArthur, who span and shot into the bottom corner.
In the 56th minute, Leicester were down to 10 men after Albrighton dragged down Zaha, who would have been left one-onone with Hamer. At first, referee Mike Dean did not give anything — it was his assistant who decided it was a foul.
Palace showed no sympathy. They bagged a third through Loftus- Cheek — the England hopeful rounding Hamer as if he was not there — and a fourth when Van Aanholt slotted home after Jeffrey Schlupp tested Hamer.
There was still time for a fifth when Benteke was bundled over by Harry Maguire. Luka Milivojevic stood over the spot but Benteke fancied it.
The last time he did this, he missed against Bournemouth. This time, he didn’t. He had not scored at home since last May and looked rather relieved to end that particular run. For Palace, safety is all but theirs.
For Leicester, continue like this under Puel and they will be in a relegation scrap next season.