'The points will come' - assessing Palace's underperformance published at 12:25 3 December 2024
12:25 3 December 2024
Alex Pewter Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
Heading into Saturday's game, nine league places and 10 points separated Crystal Palace and visitors Newcastle United. Yet, one common theme links them: inefficiency in front of goal.
Both teams are guilty of being two of the largest underperformers against their respective xG [expected goal] tallies for the season. Rather than being teams bereft of chances, they have simply not been clinical enough.
From Palace's perspective, this match played out entirely in that fashion. Daniel Munoz was central to that rollercoaster experience. His goal, coming from a final-minute 0.14xG opportunity, saved several blushes, having been guilty of missing his two previous (and better) chances.
It is difficult to find fault in the team's defence. An unfortunate own goal aside, the team held Newcastle to a single shot over 100 minutes, including added time.
Rather than conceding late, scoring an equaliser in such a fashion adds a positive spin to a draw that should have been a home victory. However, it extends the team's deficit to nearly seven goals under their xG tally.
Ahead of a crunch game on Tuesday against struggling Ipswich, Oliver Glasner's team cannot afford to continue that trend. The pair of draws to open this run of winter fixtures have been positive, with the psychological bonus of exiting the relegation zone. Still, the team must muster some clinical finishing in tight matches to overturn their luck.
Game-by-game statistics are ultimately just snapshots, and overall trends are more important. As Glasner alluded to after the Newcastle match, the points will come if the team continues to play in this fashion.
Sutton's predictions: Ipswich v Crystal Palacepublished at 08:58 3 December 2024
08:58 3 December 2024
Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.
For week 14 he takes on James Ryan, bassist with rock band The Slow Readers Club.
Sutton's prediction: 1-1
I watched Ipswich on Saturday and thought they played well. They were hard done by for the award of the penalty which Nottingham Forest scored their winner from.
Crystal Palace did get something out from their game with Newcastle - Daniel Munoz missed an unbelievable chance but made amends with his header right at the end.
I look through the Palace team and think they are too good to go down, but they have to start showing it.
These two sides have identical records, with only one win apiece from their first 13 league games.
They are both desperate for another win, so the obvious thing for me to do is call it a draw.
Ryan's prediction: 2-1
They are level on points but it feels like Ipswich are playing all right, while Palace are struggling.
Crystal Palace v Ipswich: Did you know?published at 08:19 3 December 2024
08:19 3 December 2024
Crystal Palace are unbeaten in all four of their Premier League meetings with Ipswich Town (W3 D1) - though this is their first since February 1995.
Meanwhile, Ipswich are unbeaten in their past 28 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) league matches, since a 2- 0 loss to Charlton Athletic in League One in December 2021 (W21 D7).
Gossip: Edouard may return to Selhurst Park in Januarypublished at 07:29 3 December 2024
Manchester City are among the clubs interested in Palace's Adam Wharton but the Eagles are determined to keep the midfielder until at least the summer. (Mail), external
Glasner on Ipswich, Eze and deja vupublished at 15:25 2 December 2024
15:25 2 December 2024
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Premier League game against Ipswich Town (kick-off 19:30 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Eberechi Eze "is OK to start again" after returning from injury on Saturday but Glasner said "we could see he didn't have a lot of training in the weeks before".
Tuesday's game comes too soon for midfielder Adam Wharton, but Glasner thinks the game against Brighton on 15 December "is possible for him". He hopes the England international will be back in training later this week.
The rest of the squad that were involved against Newcastle "are fit and available".
He does not believe the game against Ipswich is a "six-pointer" but winning on Tuesday is the club's "clear target".
On whether the point against Newcastle could be a turning point he said: "You can ask me this after the Ipswich game - I don't know. It's not just the point, the performance was really good. We created chances and it was a bit of deja vu having clear chances but missing. In the end getting the reward... it's how you write books for movies. Daniel Munoz missing two big chances and scoring in extra time."
Glasner said despite the performance, "we are not pleased with the result" - but praised the defence and described restricting Newcastle to no shots on target from open play as "unbelievably well done".
Listen to commentary of Ipswich v Crystal Palace on BBC Radio 5 Live on Tuesday
Guy: When it looked like we might lose 1-0 to a team who hadn't even registered a shot on goal, I feared I was witnessing the most peak Palace game ever. It's hard to tell whether we defended brilliantly or whether Newcastle were just terrible, but we deserved three points from that match.
Mike: One win from 13 games this season is not good enough. Oliver Glasner can dress it up as much as he likes but the simple fact is: if we can't win games or score goals, we will be relegated!
Ian: Palace should have scored two or three goals, but I will take the point. I'm looking forward to having Adam Wharton back over the next few weeks, and we can start putting teams to the sword. Maybe with Eberechi Eze and Wharton providing opportunities, we will see some goals.
Bob: Since Daniel Munoz joined Palace earlier this year, I have been so impressed by his unbelievable stamina. The boy just gives 100% every game. When injured during the game, he just gets on with it. He is a credit to the team and I'm so happy for him scoring his first great goal.
Newcastle fans
Tom: This is becoming a little too regular now. We looked flat and unconvincing in front of goal. That is nearly our full strength squad and we should be able to beat a lot of teams. But, once again, we are showing that Eddie Howe not being backed or allowed to strengthen our current squad is costing us too many points this season.
William: Too many of Newcastle's forward players are off-form and goal-shy. We cannot have four wingers and a centre-forward with only 20 goals per season between them, but that's where it is going. I would play Callum Wilson, William Osula and Alexander Isak up front with Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes coming on as substitutes.
Krish: Poor performance. To only have one shot on goal is not good. I understand Wilson is coming back from injury, but Osula is already fit. We can't keep shifting Gordon centrally, as he is not natural there. I was surprised to concede a late goal, considering we usually close games out when ahead.
Kevin: Too many players are being played out of their preferred positions. There is a lack of effort from a few players and no leadership on the pitch. Bruno Guimaraes' performances have dropped significantly since taking over captaincy. Tonali had one of his best performances this season and should be a starter. Howe needs to rethink his approach.
When is the FA Cup third-round draw?published at 12:16 1 December 2024
12:16 1 December 2024
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It is one of the most eagerly anticipated dates in the football calendar as Premier League and Championship clubs join the FA Cup action from round three.
The draw will take place on Monday, 2 December from 19:00 GMT and can be watched live on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.
Catch up on the Premier League actionpublished at 10:08 1 December 2024
10:08 1 December 2024
Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's five Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from Friday's game between Brighton and Southampton.
Crystal Palace 1-1 Newcastle: Key statspublished at 18:31 30 November 2024
18:31 30 November 2024
Image source, Getty Images
Marc Guehi scored his second Premier League own goal, with both of them coming at Selhurst Park. It was Palace's fifth own goal in the competition since the start of 2023. Only Fulham and Sheffield United have suffered more in that time (seven each).
Meanwhile, Marc Guehi is just the second Crystal Palace player to both score an own goal and assist or score a goal in a Premier League match after Damien Delaney, who did so for the Eagles against Liverpool in May 2014.
'I told Munoz to take the ball home, he could have had a hat-trick'published at 18:17 30 November 2024
18:17 30 November 2024
Image source, Getty Images
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day after the draw: "[The equaliser] was so deserved. We are a little bit disappointed because we would have deserved the win today. Keeping Newcastle on one shot – it was an unbelievable performance.
“We have to blame ourselves that we didn't take those chances. With Newcastle's pace in attack, you always have to take care that you don't get [hit on] transition situations. Everyone deserved the equaliser.
“We feel we deserve a bit more [this season]. It's not that we miss [chances] because we are arrogant, it's about how we deal with it.
"What gives me a lot of confidence is the character of the players here at Crystal Palace.
"It's frustrating but, on the other side, we know we will come through it together. The way we are playing is improving game-by-game and then the results will come."
On goalscorer Daniel Munoz: "I told him that he should take the ball home because he could have had a hat-trick. The most difficult one he scored, but it shows his character."
Crystal Palace 1-1 Newcastle: Munoz rescues point - but it should have been threepublished at 18:05 30 November 2024
18:05 30 November 2024
Matthew Howarth BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner may have been joking when he said Daniel Munoz could have left Selhurst Park with the match ball - but the Colombian wing-back could easily have had a hat-trick against Newcastle on Saturday.
Munoz, who had yet to score for the club since his January arrival from Genk, somehow failed to turn Ismaila Sarr's low cross into the net in the first half, before being denied by a magnificent Dan Burn block in the second.
Not for the first time, it appeared Palace's lack of cutting edge at Selhurst Park would come back to haunt them until Munoz sent a towering header past goalkeeper Nick Pope with 90 seconds of second-half stoppage time remaining.
Glasner's team have now picked up three draws from their last four games in the top flight, but their inability to finish clear-cut opportunities – particularly on home soil – remains a concern.
The Eagles return to action in a crunch game against fellow strugglers Ipswich on Tuesday, before hosting Manchester City next Saturday.
Crystal Palace 1-1 Newcastle - send us your thoughtspublished at 16:59 30 November 2024
Sutton's predictions: Crystal Palace v Newcastlepublished at 11:04 30 November 2024
11:04 30 November 2024
Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.
For week 13, he takes on boxer Sunny Edwards who is a Chelsea fan.
Sutton's prediction: 1-1
Crystal Palace have still only won one league game all season, against Tottenham at the end of October. The Eagles got a good point at Aston Villa last weekend but their manager Oliver Glasner definitely needs more than that to provide some early Christmas cheer.
I am not sure Glasner will get much joy here, though. Although I did not expect Newcastle lose at home to West Ham on Monday, I would not be surprised to see them bounce back.
This smells of a draw to me, because I do not see Newcastle losing.
Edwards' prediction: 3-2
I am a Croydon boy so even though I am a Chelsea fan, I have always been fond of Palace. I know they are not doing great but I am going to give them this one.
Which teams have a 'talisman' to save them?published at 17:32 29 November 2024
17:32 29 November 2024
For teams down at the bottom, some have that player who can save them and others are missing that talisman.
Wolves have got Matheus Cunha. If they can really get him firing, we saw last season how important he was to the team. The goal at Fulham at the weekend was one that affected that result. If Gary O'Neil can get him back to his best, he could be their potential saviour this season.
On the other hand, I do not think Southampton have that player. They relied heavily on Adam Armstrong in the Championship for goals, but I do not think he brings the same qualities we saw last season when he was able to get a consistent run of goals. Yes, Southampton are a great possession-based team but they do not have that player that will get 20 goals.
With Ipswich, they have got Liam Delap with all his attributes and they also have Omari Hutchinson too who can contribute towards the goalscoring the team needs.
When I look at Everton, I do not see them having that talisman, that player that is going to get you the goals, but as a team they have a knowhow in the Premier League. That is so important when you are fighting at the bottom. That is what Everton collectively as a team and boss Sean Dyche know how to do.
Crystal Palace have got Jean-Phillippe Mateta, they have got Eddie Nketiah, there is Ebere Eze too if they can keep him fit, so I am not worried for them. They have got a lot of injuries which has not helped and they lost two key players in the summer, but I think they have enough. If they can get players back fit, they can go on a run again like we saw at the end of last season.
And then there is Leicester. They have only really got Jamie Vardy who is ageing but does know how to score goals in the Premier League. They are struggling and I feel out of the teams battling relegation, it is Leicester and Southampton who have not got a talisman that can save them.
Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson