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Julián Speroni’s penalty save earns Crystal Palace a point against Burnley Julián Speroni’s penalty save earns Crystal Palace a point against Burnley
(about 1 hour later)
No one could fault the commitment or endeavour on display at Selhurst Park, and there will be worse matches in the Premier League this season. Both sides worked hard and tried to win and there were some near misses, a couple of scrambles, the return of Neil Warnock and Wilfried Zaha and even some late drama when Crystal Palace’s Julián Speroni made a wonderful save from Scott Arfield’s penalty to deny Burnley their first win since promotion. No one could fault the commitment or endeavour on display and there will certainly be worse matches in the Premier League this season. Both sides worked hard and tried to win and there were some near misses, a couple of scrambles, the return of Neil Warnock and Wilfried Zaha to Selhurst Park and even some late drama when Julián Speroni made a wonderful save from Scott Arfield’s penalty to deny Burnley their first win since promotion.
It was just a shame about the lack of quality that let both sides down. Burnley will feel that they should have left south London with the points, after Mike Dean pointed to the spot when Mile Jedinak hauled down Lukas Jutkiewicz, but although Arfield’s 84th-minute penalty was firmly struck, it was close enough for Speroni, so often the Palace hero, to fling up an arm and push it away. It was just a shame about the lack of quality that let both sides down.
Relief for Warnock, then, but Palace will also argue that they had enough chances in the first half to win. However, their finishing was shoddy and Burnley, who defended stoutly, were comfortable by the end. Ultimately, Warnock’s side did not play with enough penetration or creativity and it was a disappointing afternoon for Zaha. Back on the ground where it all began, he had his moments, but it will take time for him to regain his confidence and composure after his Manchester United nightmare, and he had faded long before he was substituted after 69 minutes. Burnley will feel that they should have left with the points after Mike Dean pointed to the spot when Mile Jedinak hauled down Lukas Jutkiewicz, but although Arfield’s penalty was firmly struck, it was close enough for Speroni, so often the Palace hero, to fling up an arm and push it away.
Still, this was an improvement on Palace’s previous home game, that dispiriting defeat to West Ham three weeks ago. Palace were directionless, hopeless and manager-less on that afternoon and played like a team that was already resigned to its fate. If it was possible to relegate teams on the basis of a single match, that performance would have been used as damning evidence against Palace. A second consecutive goalless draw for Sean Dyche’s side, then, and relief for Warnock, even though Palace also remain winless after four league matches.
The situation was hardly helped by the problems they experienced trying to replace Tony Pulis, whose departure on the eve of the season left the club in a state of shock; candidates coming, candidates going, one more notoriously than others. But at least the return of Warnock for a second spell at Selhurst Park has brought some stability, even though he was not exactly at the top of the list when Palace began their search for a new manager and, although it is debatable whether he is the answer at this level, he does fill the job description. Warnock is many things to many people – putting it generously, not all of them are complimentary - but he is undoubtedly a football manager. And that has to be better than nothing. Palace will argue that they had chances to win, but their finishing was shoddy and ultimately, Burnley’s organisation highlighted their attacking deficiencies. Warnock’s side did not play with enough creativity and it was a disappointing afternoon for Zaha, who will take time to regain his confidence after his Manchester United nightmare. The winger had his moments and could have scored, but he had faded long before he was replaced by Yannick Bolasie after 69 minutes.
It was another old face who Palace’s supporters were most excited about becoming reacquainted with, though. Zaha’s stoppage-time equaliser against Newcastle earned Warnock a dramatic point in his first match and he was the last out of the tunnel here, ensuring that he received a grand reception when he emerged. Even James McArthur, signed for a club-record £7m from Wigan Athletic on deadline day, could not upstage Palace’s favourite son. On a more positive note, Palace are now unbeaten in two games, after the last-gasp draw at Newcastle, and at least the return of Warnock for a second spell at Selhurst Park has brought some stability after the departure of Tony Pulis, even though he was not exactly at the top of the chairman Steve Parish’s list when he began the search for a new manager.
There was another huge cheer when Zaha’s name was read out, and for a while Palace looked energised by the buoyant atmosphere, going close to taking the lead four times in a whirlwind start. Damien Delaney fired inches over the angle of post and bar, Scott Dann looped a header against the bar and Dwight Gayle was wayward from 18 yards. It was the other old face who Palace’s supporters were most excited about becoming reacquainted with, though. Zaha’s stoppage-time equaliser against Newcastle earned Warnock a point in his first match back and the forward was the last out of the tunnel here, ensuring that he received a grand reception when he emerged.
Zaha also menaced Burnley. Released down the left, he cut into the area and fired goalwards. Tom Heaton saved, but the ball rebounded against Jason Shackell, who recovered quickly to prevent an own-goal. There was another huge cheer when Zaha’s name was read out, and for a while Palace were energised by the buoyant atmosphere. Damien Delaney fired inches over, Scott Dann headed against the bar, Dwight Gayle was wayward from 18 yards and Jason Shackell almost scored an own-goal after a weaving run and shot from Zaha.
Burnley were fortunate to escape unscathed during that period and although they had weathered the storm by half-time, their task was made more complicated when Danny Ings limped off. Overall, it was an afternoon to forget for Burnley’s most important player, who was booked by Dean for an early dive. Burnley were fortunate to escape unscathed during that period and their task was made more complicated when Danny Ings, who was booked for an early dive, limped off. “He’s snapped his leg down to get the ball and his hamstring’s gone tight,” Dyche said. “It will be another 48 hours before we know.”
The game was in danger of petering out, with Palace huffing and puffing in their Warnock-issue 4-4-2 and struggling to break Burnley down. Delaney and Jason Puncheon both located the side netting, but Palace mostly lacked ideas in open play and were given a warning when Burnley broke and Jutkiewicz shot wide. Then Arfield forced Speroni to make his first save with a drive from 20 yards. George Boyd had a go, too, but Burnley’s best chance was yet to come. The loss of Ings did not derail Burnley and they improved in the second half. This was their first ever away clean sheet in the Premier League, which was news to a pleasantly surprised Dyche. But for Speroni, they would have had more to celebrate.