Chris of life
BEES NEED ERIKSEN SPARK
THOMAS FRANK can’t get Christian Eriksen match fit quickly enough on this evidence.
Because if there was ever a game that needed an injection of the kind of quality the Dane can produce, it was this one.
There was little spark and little imagination from either side on a tedious afternoon in west London.
In fact, the only seriously uplifting moment came 10 minutes before kick-off when the former Ajax, Tottenham and Inter Milan star was introduced to Brentford’s supporters.
Eriksen’s presence and return to football was a reminder that there are much more important things in life than sport.
It was something the 23,000 Brentford and Palace supporters could cling to as they shivered and suffered their way through 90 minutes.
Frank said: “Unfortunately, I didn’t see the reception for Christian but a lot of people have said it was amazing. I’m very pleased it was not only the Brentford fans but Crystal Palace fans – for everyone involved in football it was a big day.
“It will be even crazier and bigger the day he can step on the pitch and have match minutes.”
As for the result Frank, whose side kept a first clean sheet since November, added: “In general I’m pleased and now we have a point.
“The big positive is we got a clean sheet.
“The thing we need to do is be better on the ball and have more quality in the final third.” Brentford had a penalty appeal when Marc Guehi’s arm shot up as he defended a first-half corner and made contact with the ball.
But referee Simon Hooper insisted Christian Norgaard had caused it with a push and VAR John Brooks didn’t overrule him. Clearcut chances were few and far between at either end, with Joel Ward doing enough to put off Yoane Wissa as he got on the end of Mathias Jensen’s cross.
At the other end, Odsonne Edouard released Jordan Ayew with a well-weighted pass but the Ghanaian didn’t pull the trigger soon enough and fired into the near-side netting.
Wilfried Zaha (left) then fired in a long-range shot but it was straight at David Raya.
If the first half was bad, the second half was arguably worse.
Pontus Jansson rose well to force Vicente Guaita into a reasonable enough save.
Joachim Anderson tried to settle matters with the final kick of the game but couldn’t trouble Raya.
Palace boss Patrick Vieira said: “We defended well as a team and I was really pleased with how we competed for the second ball. But we didn’t link well enough to create more chances and the draw was a
fair result.”