BOURNEM’TH
TWO beautiful goals but two precious points dropped — if Crystal Palace are to stay up they are going to do it the hard way.
Twice Roy Hodgson’s men took the lead here at the Vitality Stadium, first when Luka Milivojevic wrapped his right boot round a sumptuous 25-yard free-kick at the start of the second half.
And then again when Wilfried Zaha, who was brilliant and baby-like in equal measure, produced a delicious piece of skill and a finish to match.
But they were pegged back both times, with substitute Lys Mousset (below) striking two minutes after coming on and Joshua King, another Cherries sub, popping up at the far post with just a minute of normal time remaining.
If it’s late drama you want, Bournemouth are the team to watch.
That’s seven Premier League games in a row they have either scored or conceded in the 89th minute or later.
But Eddie Howe reckoned he could do without it and Roy Hodgson was of the same opinion.
“We’re disappointed,” said the Palace boss. “We’ve played very well and it’s frustrating, not just from my point of view but the team’s point of view as well that they couldn’t hold on to the lead on two occasions.
“We certainly created enough chances to put the game to bed but we didn’t take them and as a result you are always liable from a corner or a free-kick or something late in the game to concede and that’s what happened.
“If we can continue to play like that for the next five games we have to believe we can take enough points.
“But it’s going to be a dog-fight with all the teams down there and basically it can boil down to the fact that you score some lucky goals or survive some really hairy escapes.”
Palace ought to have