MX23RW : Wednesday, November 6 00:25:55| >> :120:14393:14393:
[monks data]
Burnley logo
Premier League | Gameweek 9
Nov 23, 2020 at 5.30pm UK
Turf Moor
Crystal Palace logo

Burnley
1 - 0
Crystal Palace

Wood (8')
Rodriguez (79'), Lowton (86')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Roy Hodgson insists Crystal Palace can score without Wilfried Zaha

Roy Hodgson insists Crystal Palace can score without Wilfried Zaha
© Reuters
The Ivory Coast international missed the defeat at Burnley after testing positive for Covid-19.

Roy Hodgson dismissed suggestions Crystal Palace are too reliant on Wilfried Zaha as the talismanic forward was forced to miss the 1-0 defeat at Burnley after testing positive for coronavirus.

Burnley claimed their first Premier League victory of the season to move out of the relegation zone thanks to Chris Wood’s eighth-minute strike, which was the Clarets’ first top-flight goal at Turf Moor this campaign.

Palace had a number of opportunities to level but found Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope in irresistible form as he saved brilliantly from Michy Batshuayi and substitute Christian Benteke in the second half.

Five of Palace’s league goals this season have come from Zaha, whose absence meant the visitors seemed to lack a cutting edge, but Hodgson was insistent that they are not dependent on their Ivory Coast international.

Wilfried Zaha had to sit the game out for Palace
Wilfried Zaha had to sit the game out for Palace (Adrian Dennis/PA)

“We’ve scored 12 which is more than we’ve had in previous years after nine games,” Hodgson said.

“I’ve had two years of listening to people tell us we don’t score enough goals and we don’t have enough goal-scorers. There are goals in the team, we do have players who can score and who will score.

“There are 29 games to go and the goals will come and will come from lots of different sources, I’m convinced of that.

“We were very much on the front foot (in the second half) and taking the game to Burnley.

“There were a lot of situations around their penalty area but unfortunately the last part when we shot wasn’t there and when it was we found the goalkeeper in excellent form.”

Michy Batshuayi failed to find a goal at Turf Moor
Michy Batshuayi failed to find a goal at Turf Moor (Michael Regan/PA)

Asked when Zaha tested positive for coronavirus, Hodgson added: “We’ve known about it for a few days. We didn’t want to broadcast it to the world because we were rather hoping that the second test might free him to play.

“He’s had to self-isolate so now I have to wait for that test to free him because luckily he’s not feeling particularly unwell.”

Burnley had failed to find the back of the net in their previous four matches while they came into this fixture as the division’s lowest scorers with only three goals in seven outings.

Manager Sean Dyche believes they had been on the right track after a goalless draw at Brighton before the international break but feels this was more of a complete display.

“We defended fantastically well down at Brighton but we had a better balance to our performance here,” he said.

“We were effective in the top third and defended well, culminating in a fantastic save by Popey (from Benteke) to make sure we got the clean sheet and the win.

“It’s a starting point, it’s nice to get that story to calm down a bit when you get that win, it takes your points tally up and you get out of the bottom three for this period but we know there’s lots of work to be done.

“We are getting players fit again, we do look a more rounded squad at the moment, provided everyone stays fit, so that gives you a better platform to build from.

“You put all that together with a win and a clean sheet and the feelgood factor certainly comes back into the group very quickly.”

ID:423500: cacheID:423500:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:8342:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sunderland139222391429
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd149321871128
3Leeds UnitedLeeds137512281426
4Burnley136521761123
5Watford147162222022
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom13562148621
7Middlesbrough146351816221
8Millwall135441612419
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn135441614219
10Swansea CitySwansea14545119219
11Bristol City144731819-119
12Norwich CityNorwich144642320318
13Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds145361724-718
14Oxford UnitedOxford Utd144551717017
15Coventry CityCoventry134361717015
16Derby CountyDerby134361617-115
17Stoke CityStoke134361518-315
18Hull City143651518-315
19Cardiff CityCardiff134361319-615
20Plymouth ArgylePlymouth144371425-1115
21Preston North EndPreston133551420-614
22Luton TownLuton133371521-612
23Queens Park RangersQPR141761223-1110
24Portsmouth141671327-149


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!