Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha reveals reasons behind his scoring spree

BY MATT WOOSNAM

Wilfried Zaha believes that practice makes perfect after netting his eighth goal of the season in Crystal Palace’s fine win at Burnley on Saturday.

The winger has been in superb form in recent weeks.

Zaha was involved in the first and second goals at Turf Moor before his excellent skill bamboozled Ben Mee and Charlie Taylor for the third goal as he fired past Tom Heaton to score the third and put the result beyond doubt.

Having scored twice at Leicester last week, and the only Palace goal at West Ham earlier this month, the Ivorian has finally hit scintillating form, leaving him just two more goals from reaching double figures.

“I’m always happy to score really and obviously help the team,” said Zaha. “The main thing is the three points for the team but I’m glad I could add to the goals.

“I score goals like that all the time in training when we play five-a-side, so it’s nice to finally get a goal like that in a game!

“I was thinking: ‘Okay, I can’t chop any more times’. I just made sure I connected with the ball properly.

“All I’m trying to focus on is scoring goals, so I’m buzzing [to have scored so many]. Whether it’s home or away, I’m just buzzing to be on the scoresheet.”

The 26-year-old has shown more maturity in his performances since he was sent off at Southampton.

Zaha admits he has trained himself to make the right decisions in the final third.

“I have to do what I can on the pitch to make it my day,” he said. “If I have to play simple, I just have to know when to do what I need to do and then if I get the chance to take on someone in the box then I’ll do it.

“We tried to break. [After the first goal], they would have to come on to us – which leaves space for me and Schluppy [Jeffrey Schlupp] to run into. We got our chances and took them. Obviously, the gaffer gives us a game plan and away from home we can’t be as open, so we stay tight and try to break on teams.”

Michy Batshuayi netted for the second time since joining the Eagles on loan, thundering a low cross from Aaron Wan-Bissaka into the back of the net to double the lead, and Zaha revealed he had confidence in his team-mate.

“It’s good to see our strikers scoring and funnily enough, from the Leicester game, I told him, ‘bro once you get that first goal, they start coming from nowhere.’ I’m happy to see him on the scoresheet.

“It’s just practice, really. We’re practising shooting all the time and we’re only going to get better. Over time, we’re showing it on the pitch and getting the goals we need.”