Wilfried Zaha return vital for Crystal Palace – but Manchester United defeat is nowhere near the end of their survival fight

By Richard Cawley

richard@slpmedia.co.uk

For a club who has suffered a season of setbacks, another one should not have an irredeemable effect on Crystal Palace.

Monday night’s 3-2 defeat to Manchester United was a gut-wrenching disappointment for the South Londoners. But it was not a fatal blow, nothing like it in fact, to their hopes of securing Premier League survival.

That doesn’t diminish the sense of deflation that Palace could not see out victory over Jose Mourinho’s side from such an advantageous position early in the second-half, when Patrick van Aanholt added to Andros Townsend’s majorly-deflected opener.

For 48 minutes, they did everything you need to do to put a Premier League heavyweight in trouble – restricting space, retaining a good defensive shape and breaking out with attacks at opportune moments.

They deprived pockets of space for the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Jesse Lingard and Paul Pogba to pull the strings during a troubling first 45 minutes for United. Palace were rock solid down both flanks, squeezing the play into more central areas where the industrious Luka Milivojevic and James McArthur won plenty of the ball.

But it became a bit too open in the second half. There are all manner of reasons for that, it’s never just about one factor. The introduction of Marcus Rashford for Scott McTominay was an attacking change by Mourinho – and as they pushed more players forward it became harder for the Eagles to stem the tide of attacks.

What doesn’t help is a lack of confidence in Wayne Hennessey. Solid goalkeepers provide comfort to their backline, but the Welsh international is a jittery presence.

He did not have a shot on target to contend with in the first half but still managed to allow a Pogba cross to slip between his gloves as well as inconclusively punching another delivery.

Hennessey is often rooted to his line when the ball is fired across and that maybe accounts for James Tomkins sitting deep and playing Chris Smalling onside in the 55th minute.

Top shotstoppers are invaluable. David de Gea’s one-handed denial of Christian Benteke – preventing Palace from moving 3-2 ahead – was prime proof of that.

But United sensed a comeback was on as soon as they netted their first of the night. An earlier introduction of Jairo Riedewald might have taken some of the sting out of the visitors’ attacks, but it also could just as easily have invited even more pressure.

Benteke sparked fury from sections of the home support as he failed to chase a ball late in the match, but that was incredibly harsh. Goals might be lacking from the former Liverpool man, but you could not fault his effort. He was on his own goal-line to deny Nemanja Matic, even if the Serbian later produced one of those occasional long-range rockets he possesses in his locker.

Again there was criticism that Milivojevic did not step out more urgently to close Matic down for the stoppage-time winner, turning his back before the ball flew past him and arced into the back of the net. But the skipper was another who had put in a huge shift. You had to admire the technique of Matic, as much as any slight loss of focus by his countryman.

What Hodgson needs right now is more options in his 18-man matchday squad. A bench of Chung-yong Lee, Pape Souare, Damien Delaney, Erdal Rakip, Jaroslaw Jach and Riedewald emphasises that he has nearly an entire team in the treatment room.

And what the former England head coach really, really needs is Wilfried Zaha. Palace have not won without their totemic attacker.

If it is pressure to say that their top-flight status depends on their most popular academy product, then Zaha is just going to have to cope with that burden of expectation.

Andros Townsend is happy to put in the graft but even his goal was thanks to a deflection off Victor Lindelof. Without that, De Gea would not have been beaten. Palace need more in the final third and their inability to add proven quality could cost them every bit as dearly as persisting with Hennessey in goal.

Alexander Sorloth won next to nothing in the air against United. Time might see him mature at this level, but it is paucity of options which has seen his promotion into the starting line-up.

Setting a total for safety is not an exact science. The total has been as high as 40 and as low as 31 in the past decade – 37 has been enough in all bar two of those seasons and that means another 11 points are needed from nine fixtures.

Palace have won their last two visits to Chelsea and making that a hat-trick in SW6 would once again transform the relegation landscape.

But the return of Zaha – soon – is essential to success. The Eagles lack enough match-winners in their ranks.

Crystal Palace: Hennessey 5, Bissaka 8, Tomkins 5, Kelly 6, Van Aanholt 6, Townsend 7, Milivojevic 7, McArthur 6, Schlupp 7 (Riedewald 80), Sorloth 6, Benteke 7. Not used: Cavalieri, Souare, Delaney, Jach, Rakip, Lee.