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WHAT a difference a week makes for Crystal Palace. Last weekend an injury-time goal denied them victory at home. Yesterday it sealed a valuable three points.
After a heartbreaking 1-1 draw against Wolves it was fair to say that nerves were fraught when the fourth official indicated five minutes of added t i me here against Norwich.
Leading 1-0 thanks to captain Luka Milivojevic’s first-half penalty on his 100th appearance for t he cl ub, s ubstit ut e Andros Townsend saw the Eagles soar with their second goal of the afternoon in the 92nd minute. The result moved Palace into the top half of the Premier League, in ninth, while Norwich languish one point above the relegation zone in 17th place.
‘ You want to win your home games, it is important for the fans — and the form here so far this season is pleasing,’ Palace manager Roy Hodgson said afterwards. Palace are now unbeaten in their last six home Premier League games. It is their longest such run at Selhurst Park since 1993.
This match was a microcosm of both sides’ ambitions to maintain their Premier League status. It may only be September, but while the hosts need to make Selhurst Park a fortress, their opponents need to cure their travel woes.
This fixture has traditionally been a bad omen for either side in the top flight with at least one relegated. Palace in 1992-93, both in 1994-95 and 2004-05, Norwich in 2013-14 and 201516. And on this viewing the Canaries’ wings may be clipped come May.
The Eagles came flying out of the traps early on and nearly took the lead after just two minutes. James McArthur won the ball too easily in the Norwich half before releasing Wilfried Zaha down the right, but his effort flew just over the bar.
Jordan Ayew was next to try his luck, but his 20-yard piledriver was well parried by Ralf Fahrmann who looked to be struggling. Soon afterwards things got worse for the 31year-old, who was making his Premier League debut, and his team-mates as they fell behind.
Zaha was proving a menace down the right and this time he sold Todd Cantwell beautifully by faking to cross as he rolled the ball under his right foot. He then set up McArthur who saw his initial effort blocked by Norwich captain Ben Godfrey from eight yards out. But before he could try a second attempt he was brought down by Ibrahim Amadou. It was a stonewall penalty and one that was put away into the top right-hand corner by Milivojevic on 21 minutes.
Fahrmann went the right way but that was his last involvement. The German, who had been struggling before the game with a groin injury, was forced off, with Michael McGovern entering the fray.
It took Norwich half an hour to create their first real opening with Teemu Pukki hitting a left-foot shot that was well saved by Vicente Guiata. Cantwell then came close to levelling matters but his effort was stopped by a last-ditch block by Martin Kelly.
Half-time came just at the perfect moment for the hosts, giving them time to regroup. Soon after, McArthur came close to extending their lead but blasted over the crossbar from 20 yards out.
That was as good as it got as the game became a scrappy affair until Palace extended their lead.
Substitute Max Meyer found Zaha down the left who bullied the hapless Amadou before teeing up Townsend. The 28-year-old took one touch inside the Norwich penalty area before squirming an effort beyond the dive of McGovern to seal the victory.
Hodgson was pleased with Zaha’s display — believing his mind is back with the club after his demand to leave this summer wasn’t met.
‘The Premier League may not give Wilf the assist for the penalty, but I will. Then he set up Andros for the second,’ he said. ‘He has been back changing the game in the last couple, maybe even more against Wolves. The first two games he wasn’t the Wilf we know and love. But since then he is again. We have always said he is a player we need. To his credit he has got his head around the summer, and is focused on helping Palace.’ Norwich’s away form is something they must get a grasp of. They’ve only scored once in four away league matches which have all ended in defeat. To make matters worse their injury count is now at 11 after this match. ‘We are disappointed to get no points, small details cost us. It’s not perfect when you have to replace a goalkeeper so early,’ Norwich manager Daniel Farke conceded. ‘It is difficult at the moment with all the injuries. You reach a moment when you think it can’t get any worse, and then you get another sucker punch. ‘Right now I am almost more worried about Jamal Lewis, who will need a scan on his elbow. Ben Godfrey also lost a lot of blood from his cut.’