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Tag: Crystal Palace

  • Gray’s winner sends Watford into FA Cup semi-finals

    Watford beat Crystal Palace 2-1 on Saturday to reach their second FA Cup semi-final in four seasons, with substitute Andre Gray scoring the winner three minutes after coming off the bench.

    Etienne Capoue side-footed Watford ahead in the 27th minute at a blustery Vicarage Road as the hosts controlled the first half, but Crystal Palace responded strongly after the break.

    Michy Batshuayi punished a defensive lapse to equalise for Roy Hodgson’s side just past the hour mark.

    It was Crystal Palace who then looked to have the upper hand moving into the closing stages.

    But it was Watford who went on to secure a last-four date at Wembley through Gray, who had just replaced Will Hughes.

    He volleyed in a 79th minute winner to send their fans home dreaming of a second FA Cup final appearance, after the 1984 showpiece which they lost.

    But they had to survive a late scare though, when Crystal Palace’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka drilled a low shot wide after a defensive blunder.

    Tearful Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes was given an emotional ovation at the end in what could be the Brazilian’s final appearance at Vicarage Road.

    He has only played in the FA Cup run this season, with Ben Foster first choice in the league.

    The 38-year-old said afterwards he was “99.9 percent’’ certain to retire to become a pastor at the end of the season when his contract expires.

    Watford manager Javi Gracia, in his first full season at the club, said his side had “suffered” in the second half but was confident Gray could make the difference.

    “It was a difficult moment when Crystal Palace equalised, but I was confident we would be able to win the game,” he said.

    “We are ambitious. We want to achieve (by reaching) the final. That is our target.”

    Gomes was the first goalkeeper called into action when he saved low down from Luka Milivojevic’s shot, but it was his opposite number Vincente Guaita who was busier.

    He saved well from Gerard Deulofeu, but was at fault soon after when Jose Holebas’s corner kick left him in no man’s land.

    Craig Cathcart prodded the ball back for Capoue to sidefoot high into an unguarded net.

    Guaita made amends, keeping out a fierce drive by impressive FC Barcelona academy product Deulofeu.

    Relegation-threatened Crystal Palace, without injured Wilfried Zaha, improved after the break and Watford began to look jittery.

    In the 62nd minute Adrian Mariappa dithered on the ball and was dispossessed by Batshuayi.

    The former Chelsea man then advanced before opening up his body and shooting past Gomes.

    Roared on by their vocal fans, Crystal Palace looked likely to inflict more FA Cup heartbreak on Watford, who they beat in the semi-finals three years ago.

    However, they were stopped in their tracks as Hodgson suffered a third quarter-final defeat.

    In a rare Watford attack Roberto Pereyra’s superb pass picked out the run of Gray and he got just enough on his stretching volley to guide the ball past Guaita.

    The goal sealed a hat-trick of 2-1 wins over Crystal Palace this season.

    “We weathered a storm in the first half and when we equalised I felt good about our chances,” Hodgson said.

    “We were looking dangerous and the Watford crowd had gone very quiet.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Super Eagles forward Isaac Success was an unused substitute for Watford in the thrilling encounter.

    NAN

  • Crystal Palace rout Leicester 4-1

    Crystal Palace piled further pressure on Leicester City manager Claude Puel on Saturday with a comprehensive 4-1 English Premier League (EPL) win over his team.

    Puel have now gone seven games without a victory.

    Two goals from Wilfried Zaha, another from Michy Batshuayi and a penalty kick from Luka Milivojevic inflicted a fourth consecutive league defeat on Leicester — their worst run since 2000.

    But it was the manner of the performance that would have most alarmed Puel, with two goals conceded late on to set sections of the crowd booing.

    By contrast, 71-year-old Roy Hodgson was in delighted mood as he officially became the oldest ever Premier League manager.

    Leicester conceded the first goal for the 19th time this season when Batshuayi was hit by James McArthur’s shot, with the ball ricocheting past Kasper Schmeichel at great pace.

    It was the Belgian’s first Premier League goal in 19 months.

    Although Evans responded with his first goal for Leicester, after 64 minutes, Crystal Palace quickly restored their lead with a finish from close-in by Zaha, who was returning from suspension.

    Milivojevic put the game beyond doubt with a spot kick after 81 minutes when Evans, making an eventful 250th appearance in the Premier League, fouled Jeffrey Schlupp.

    Zaha added his second goal, and Crystal Palace’s fourth, late on after mistakes by Harry Maguire and Schmeichel.

    Interviewed on television immediately after the game, Zaha appeared surprised when James Tomkins was awarded the man-of-the-match award.

    Asked to present it, Zaha joked: “Oh wow, really? Okay.”

    The win put Crystal Palace six points clear of the relegation zone as they moved one place and two points behind 12th-placed Leicester.

    NAN

  • Kante strike earns Chelsea slim win at Crystal Palace

    Chelsea kept up their pursuit of the top three clubs in the 2018/2019 English Premier League with a 1-0 win away to London rivals Crystal Palace on Sunday.

    But it was all thanks to a strike by N’Golo Kante early in the second half, as Chelsea had to work hard to break down Crystal Palace.

    Crystal Palace had taken seven points in their previous three matches, including a shock win over defending champions Manchester City, but seemed content to allow their visitors most of the possession.

    After a sterile first 35 minutes, Willian smacked the post with a swinging free-kick and Ross Barkley hit the same upright soon afterwards with an acrobatic overhead effort.

    Kante broke the deadlock in the 51st minute when his darting run into the Crystal Palace penalty area was spotted by defender David Luiz.

    The Brazilian duly put the France 2018 FIFA World Cup winner on to score from close range.

    Crystal Palace substitute Connor Wickham spurned the hosts’ best chance of the game when he toe-punted a shot over the bar in the dying minutes.

    Chelsea remain in fourth place in the English Premier League, one point behind Manchester City — who were playing later on Sunday.

    They are two points adrift of second-placed Tottenham Hotspur, but 11 behind leaders Liverpool, while Crystal Palace remain in 14th spot.

    The win also gave Chelsea an important five-point cushion over Arsenal, their nearest challengers for the fourth UEFA Champions League spot who were hammered 5-1 by Liverpool on Saturday.

    “It is never easy to play here or control it here, especially when they (Crystal Palace) play long balls, but we did well.

    “We could have scored early but they also did a great match defensively, which is why it was so difficult,” Chelsea’s Luiz told reporters.

    Chelsea forward Olivier Giroud had two goals ruled out for offside and then was forced off injured.

    Coach Maurizio Sarri said the Frenchman had an ankle problem which looked set to rule him out of Wednesday’s game against Southampton.

    This adds to the team’s fitness problems, particularly in attack with Pedro, Cesc Fabregas and Ruben Loftus-Cheek also currently sidelined.

    “We played against a dangerous opponent. So, we had to have possession. We played well in the first 45 minutes and even better in the second half.

    “The only thing I didn’t like is that we didn’t kill the match off,” added the Italian.

    “That meant it was hard to defend the match in the box in the final minutes.”(Reuters/NAN)

  • Watford’s Gracia named Premier League manager of the month

    Watford Manager Javi Gracia has been named August’s Premier League manager of the month after guiding the club to a winning start this season.

    Watford recorded three wins out of three in August, beating Brighton and Hove Albion, Burnley and Crystal Palace.

    “I am very pleased. “We are enjoying (it). You never know what will happen,” Gracia told the Premier League website on Friday.

    “Don’t look only at the end of the road. Try to enjoy day by day. Try to enjoy the very good atmosphere; the workers who are helping us, the supporters in all the games are amazing.

    Read Also: EPL: Watford’s late goals stun 10-man Chelsea

    “I think altogether we can achieve very good things.”

    Their 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur last weekend ensured Gracia’s side are the first in the club’s history to record four straight wins at the start of a top-flight campaign.

    It is Gracia’s first Premier League manager of the month award and the second to be won by a Watford boss after Quique Sanchez Flores in December 2015.

    He beat Liverpool’s Juergen Klopp, Spurs’ Mauricio Pochettino and Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri to the award.

    Watford is one of the three Premier League teams with a 100 per cent record this season, alongside Liverpool and Chelsea.

  • Milner, Mane secure victory for Liverpool at Palace

    Liverpool’s James Milner’s converted a penalty kick on the stroke of halftime and Sadio Mane added a late second goal to secure a hard-fought 2-0 win at Crystal Palace on Monday.

    The English Premier League fixture offers an accomplished performance from Juergen Klopp’s side.

    With Virgil Van Dijk in commanding form at centre-half, Liverpool looked solid at the back as well as a threat going forward.

    Although they had to wait for Mane’s fine solo effort to wrap up the points in stoppage time, Liverpool would still be delighted.

    At least, after a 4-0 opening day win over West Ham United, they made it six points and two clean sheets from their opening two games.

    However, many will feel that Liverpool’s early form has confirmed pre-season predictions that they will be the main challengers to champions Manchester City for the title this season.

    Manager Klopp meanwhile has said he had no interest in such talk.

    “It’s very early. I couldn’t care less really. We are not in a race with other English Premier League teams each weekend.

    “I was not 100 percent sure tonight in the first half that we would score,” said the German.

    “You have to play it as it is and be a real challenger, play ugly, do all that type of stuff. Our target is to be a difficult opponent.

    “It is too soon to say anything after two match days. You can discuss whatever you want —- just do it without us.”

    Crystal Palace’s attacking threat was evident from early on.

    Winger Andros Townsend sent a warning when he rattled the bar with a thundering effort from distance after cutting on to his left foot.

    But the game turned as the visitors were awarded a penalty kick when Mamadou Sakho was ruled to have tripped Mohammed Salah.

    Palace felt Salah made a lot of the challenge.

    But, in spite of the protests, Milner kept his cool to fire past Wayne Hennessey and send the Merseysiders into the break with the advantage.

    Palace’s task was made harder 15 minutes from time when defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka was sent off for bringing down Salah in a goalscoring position.

    Mane made it 2-0 in stoppage time with great strength and skill as he broke from the halfway line, after collecting a Salah through ball, and rounded Hennessey before slotting home.

    Palace’s former England and Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson was clearly furious with the penalty decision.

    “I take some comfort and pride in the team’s performance, but it won’t change my disappointment and anger,” he said.(Reuters/NAN)

  • Bakary Sako out for rest of the season

    Bakary Sako out for rest of the season

     

    Crystal Palace winger Bakary Sako is out for the rest of the season after fracturing his ankle, manager Roy Hodgson said on Friday.

    Sako limped off in the first half of Palace’s 1-1 Premier League draw at West Ham United on Tuesday.

    Hodgson said the 29-year-old, who has scored six goals in all competitions this season, suffered damage to his ankle ligaments and remains a doubt to be fit for the start of the 2018-19 campaign.

    ‘Baky’s injury is a very serious one. He’s fractured his ankle and damaged ligaments around it,’ the former England manager told reporters.

    ‘He certainly won’t play again this season and may be a doubt to be fit for the start of next.’

    Hodgson described the type of injuries to hit his squad this season as ‘unusual’ as he has just 19 players to choose from for Sunday’s league fixture against Newcastle United.

    ‘Our injury situation is unusual. A lot of clubs can get a number of muscle injuries, but we’re in a situation where we’ve lost five for the season,’ he said.

    ‘(Christian) Benteke, (Wilfried) Zaha, and (Mamadou) Sakho all spent at least 6 weeks out earlier in the season.’

    Hodgson added that Norwegian new signing Alexander Sorloth will replace Sako in the squad at Selhurst Park this weekend.

    A heavy challenge from Pablo Zabaleta late in the first half of the 1-1 draw at London Stadium left Sako requiring treatment.

    Hodgson was able to bring one attacking replacement in before the deadline in Alexander Sorloth, and the former England manager was delighted to acquire his top target.

    “He was our first-choice striker target and will likely be in the squad on Sunday,” added the 70-year-old.

    “We watched Sorloth a lot. We knew what we were signing.

    “He’ll need a little bit of time to adjust, he’s not played competitively since November, but we have a two week break coming up where he can get his feet under the table.”

  • Tottenham’s Dembele eyes start against Arsenal

    Tottenham’s Dembele eyes start against Arsenal

    Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Mousa Dembele is confident he can make his first Premier League start for the club in two months, in the weekend’s clash at Arsenal after fully recovering from a foot injury.

    Dembele, whose progress has also been stalled by a hip issue, has featured just six times in the Premier League this season.

    And he played the full 45 minutes after coming on at half time in the 1-0 win over Crystal Palace earlier this month.

    The Belgian international is targeting a full time return to first team action.

    “My injury is much better, “Dembele told Sky Sports.”I played 45 minutes in the last game so it is good. Of course.

    “I want to be playing for the team and adding my value but right now I am very optimistic and feel good.

    “For us every game is important, but we know there is some extra vibe for this kind of game, it’s important for us.”

    Tottenham are third in the table, eight points behind runaway leaders Manchester City, and Dembele stressed the importance of a win on Saturday.

    “Also, like the fans, we have the same goal, we want to achieve something as a club and any team that we play we want to beat, we want to win,” he said.

    “That is the same with this game, we are aware of the importance of this derby.”

    Arsenal, who were beaten 3-1 at City in their last league outing are sixth in the standings with 19 points from 11 games.

    NAN

  • Nigerian-born Abraham gets first England call-up

    Nigerian-born Abraham gets first England call-up

    England on Thursday called up the uncapped Nigerian-born Tammy Abraham, Joe Gomez and Ruben Loftus-Cheek for their friendly matches against Germany and Brazil at Wembley this month.

    The Football Association (FA) in England listed them in the 25-man squad for the games against the World Cup holders on November 10 and Brazil four days later.

    Abraham and Loftus-Cheek, who are both Chelsea players out on loan at Swansea City and Crystal Palace respectively, have broken into the Gareth Southgate’s senior squad.

    This is on the back of some impressive performances in the Premier League.

    Striker Abraham who some weeks back caught the fancy of Amaju Pinnick, the President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has scored four of Swansea’s seven league goals this season.

    He has since, in the light of Pinnick’s expressed desire to have him play for Nigeria, said he was not yet ready to make up his mind on his international future.

    Midfielder Loftus-Cheek has made six appearances for Crystal Palace in spite of missing some games with a thigh injury.

    Defender Gomez, who has rebounded well since returning from a 15-month layoff with a ligament injury in January, started seven league games for Liverpool this season.

    “We’re in a position now where we’ve qualified for the World Cup and we always wanted to look at the team and how we want it to evolve,” Southgate said in a statement.

    England team
    England team

     

    “This is an opportunity to look at new players and a different way of playing and I think the beauty of my position is that I know the young players in the system.”

    Manchester United’s Ashley Young, who last played for his country in September 2013, was recalled for his impressive run under Jose Mourinho at Manchester United.

    Full-back, Danny Rose and Jamie Vardy returned from injury, while Liverpool duo Daniel Sturridge and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Manchester United defender Chris Smalling were not included in the squad.

    2018: England squad against Russia

    Goalkeepers: Jack Butland (Stoke City), Joe Hart (West Ham United – loan from Manchester City), Jordan Pickford (Everton)

    Defenders: Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Harry Maguire (Leicester City), John Stones (Manchester City)

    Kieran Trippier (Tottenham Hotspur), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Danny Rose (Tottenham)

    Midfielders: Dele Alli (Tottenham), Fabian Delph (Manchester City), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United)

    Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Crystal Palace – loan from Chelsea), Ashley Young (Manchester United), Harry Winks (Tottenham)

    Forwards: Tammy Abraham (Swansea City – loan from Chelsea), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Jamie Vardy (Leicester).

  • West Ham’s Bilic says pressure spurs him on to improve

    West Ham’s Bilic says pressure spurs him on to improve

    West Ham United manager, Slaven Bilic admits he is one of many Premier League managers facing speculation over their futures, but the Croat said the pressure makes him more determined to improve results.

    Everton’s Ronald Koeman became the third managerial casualty of the Premier League season on Monday.

    And Bilic is at risk of suffering the same fate if he does not turn things around after last Friday’s 3-0 home loss to Brighton and Hove Albion.

    West Ham are 16th in the table with eight points from nine games, but Bilic said he would not walk away from the challenge.

    “You ask me about Koeman, there are always three, four, five managers in those positions and I‘m definitely one of them,” Bilic said ahead of the League Cup fourth round clash at Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.

    “Does it make me lose my focus? No, it gives you even more. I never gave up in my career, no matter in which way of life, as a parent, as a friend, as a manager.

    “I am never, never, never walking away… It is my job and a job I like to do especially in a place that I feel, after my hometown, is like few other places, you are treated special.”

    British media reports said West Ham’s owners have given Bilic the next two games to turn things around and save his job, but the 49-year-old is not worried.

    “That’s my biggest strength, to be strong in hard times. Now I‘m having a hard time, yes I am. That doesn’t scare me.”

    After the clash against Tottenham at Wembley, West Ham travel to basement side Crystal Palace in the league.

    Palace have just one win in nine games so far.

    NAN

  • Benteke hopeful of November return

    Benteke hopeful of November return

    Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke says he is recovering well from a knee ligament injury and confident of returning to first-team action for the English Premier League club in November.

    The Belgium international, Palace’s top scorer last season, sustained the injury in last month’s defeat to league leaders Manchester City.

    He has missed the Eagles’ last two games, including their first win of the campaign against champions Chelsea.

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    “The rehab is going really well and I‘m feeling really happy with the way my ligament is healing. So, hopefully I can be back in a few weeks,” Benteke told the club’s website (www.cpfc.co.uk).

    The 26-year-old also wants to impress Belgium manager Roberto Martinez with a goal-scoring run at Palace to boost his chances of being called up for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

    “Playing in the World Cup is a big motivation, but it’s only going to improve my performances at the club. I really want to help the team and do well this year to make sure I‘m in the squad,” he added.

    Palace are bottom of the table and host ninth-placed Newcastle United on Saturday.

    NAN