Wilfried Zaha on his first Crystal Palace goal – and why it meant more to score it in front of the Holmesdale
BY ANDREW MCSTEEN
Wilfried Zaha was pleased to get his first goal of the season for Crystal Palace – and took extra delight that it came in front of the club’s vociferous home support.
The Ivory Coast international netted in the 82nd minute of Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Liverpool, with Roberto Firmino producing a winner soon after for the reigning European champions and Premier League leaders.
“It’s massive,” said Zaha about his strike in front of Selhurst Park’s Holmesdale Road end. “Obviously it’s my first goal of the season and it was a good move.
“I’m just happy to finish it off in front of the crowd because they’ve pushed us throughout the season and throughout the game we needed them – it felt good for me to get that goal for them.”
Sadio Mane had put the visitors in front with a 49th minute goal – the fifth consecutive league game against the Eagles in which he has scored.
James Tomkins’ 42nd-minute header was ruled out via VAR for an apparent Jordan Ayew push on Dejan Lovren.
“I didn’t even see what happened really,” said Zaha. “I thought it was just a goal but as soon as I saw the referee I thought ‘anything can happen’.
“It would have been nice for Tomko, but we’ve just got to move on and keep going.”
Roy Hodgson’s men have faced Liverpool, Leicester, Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal in their last six games – five of the current top-seven teams – plus West Ham, picking up just one win and one draw.
But the Palace dangerman is confident in the ability of his side to get back to winning ways.
“We worked hard and tried to match them [Liverpool] throughout the game,” he said. “Obviously we were a bit unlucky at the end but I’m proud of the team today.
“Liverpool just took their chances really, but the main thing was to just try and match them – their work-rate. I felt like we did that, but we just fell short and were unlucky. On another day, with that performance, we get the three points.
“No games in the Premier League are easy but with performances like that we will win more than we lose. Hopefully we can continue in the same way and pick up points on the way.”
PICTURES BY KEITH GILLARD
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