Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has recounted the positives from his side’s barren draw with newly promoted Sunderland at Selhurst Park on Saturday evening.
Softfootball understands that Crystal Palace were held to a barren draw at home for the second consecutive time, having played a 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest last August.
Despite coming from a 3-0 away win over Aston Villa before the international break, Glasner’s Crystal Palace ought to have been awake from their slumber in the new season, but it seems the lukewarmness still persists for the London side.
However, the Eagles had a bit of consolation in the game, enjoying long spells of control that weren’t converted into goals, with Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs producing a string of fine saves to deny the hosts. Roef recorded six saves during the encounter to deny the hosts and also earned his team their first point on the road. Yeremy Pino, Daichi Kamada, Jean-Philippe Mateta and debutant Christantus Uche all went close but were left frustrated by the visitors’ resilience.
Speaking after the match, Glasner told the Club media that his team were disappointed not to take all three points but stressed the importance of maintaining their defensive stability. He said:
There’s a little bit more disappointment about the result. We missed one or two chances, and if we don’t score, then it’s important not to lose. Defensively we were very consistent, but Sunderland had only one chance in the first half, which Tyrick Mitchell blocked superbly.
Glasner, however, praised his new arrivals. Pino, who made his home debut, and Uche’s late cameo that added physicality to Palace’s attack. Yino had two chances missed during the game, while Christanus Uche, his substitute, could only get a shot on target within his 11 minutes of play.
But Glasner, while speaking about the duo players, said that:
I’m very pleased with Pino’s performance. He was dangerous and had chances. He will adapt to the physicality of the Premier League and will score goals for us. Uche was great at the end too and could have even earned us a penalty.
The result leaves Palace unbeaten in the league, with Glasner emphasising that the foundation is in place for improvement as the season progresses. Currently, Palace are in the eighth position with six points, a spot behind Sunderland, who has seven points. Both Crystal Palace and Sunderland will be playing West Ham for a London derby showpiece as Sunderland welcome Aston Villa to the Stadium of Light.
