For long periods this looked like we could lose the game and be plunged into the relegation mire, but we finally came good late on.

It was good to see Claude Puel start with Shane Long, but there is something clearly wrong somewhere in the fact that Martin Caceres was still not in the starting line up.

I am going to be blunt here and say that we gambled last night in the defence that we put out, Jack Stephens and Sam McQueen are Championship quality players at best and as good a club man that Yoshida is he is not true Premier League quality or a leader and it looked like it might cost us dearly when Palace hit us with sucker blow on the half hour mark.

That sucker blow saw Sam McQueen fail to cut out a through ball and within seconds they had whipped the ball in and were ahead for an undeserved lead.

Although we looked good going forward and created chances, the fact was Palace had a game plan and that was sit back hit us on the break and with set pieces.

Benteke bullied Yoshida and Stephens and this meant that although we had plenty of possession and chances, the fact that we had taken only the one on the stroke of half time meant that throughout the second half we looked frail at the back.

Although the Eagles sat back, whenever they attacked you felt they might score, on set pieces especially they dominated in the air and neither Yoshida or Stephens got to grips with them and it was luck rather than judgement that meant that we went into the final 10 minutes even.

In my book with 30 minutes to go (at least) we should have been bringing Caceres on to try to stem Palace's threat at set pieces, yet we did not make a substitution of any kind till the 87th minute.

Attacking wise I can understand that, the central midfield trio were all having outstanding games and the three attacking players were looking lively, it was hard to see how changing things would be an improvement, however defensively we creaked every time Palace got a set piece.

Yoshida's goal with 7 minutes to go was deserved for all our pressure and chances, however having scored it, Puel should have immediately changed things at the back, a good manager is pro active and not reactive.

On 87 minutes he brought Hojbjerg on for Steven Davis, this was a good change in that Davis had run himself into the ground, but it was in my book too little too late.

Ward Prowse's goal two minutes later sealed the game but looking at the game overall we gambled with our back four and it could have, like the Bournemouth game, gone either way.

Saints are a good side, but we are underperforming and when we look back on this season, yes it will be a case of injuries have had their affect, but there have been too many games like this that have been a case of going either way due to our frailties in the back four especially the centre.

This game went our way, but two many this season haven't and that is why although we are ninth, with the team we have we should be comfortably 8th and pushing Everton for 7th.

Ultimately Claude Puel's season will be defined by what he does in the final couple of month's, there have been moments early on when we have questioned his rotation policy, however he has seemingly turned full circle with that now and only makes changes either in the starting line up or substitutions sparingly.

There have been factors beyond his control, the Fonte issue for instance and the fact that we have lost key players like Austin, Van Dijk and Gabbiadini at vital times and for extended periods, however now he has to show us he can handle these situations.

Last night I think was more luck than judgement and remember I am not one of those who got on his back early in the season, I have counselled that we have to be patient and give him the season to show he has learnt from experience.

Last night though and in the game against Bournemouth I saw nothing to suggest that he had and that worries me.

It is not about his demeanor or his playing style, I think in the case of the latter that works fine going forward and with everyone fit it will score goals, however he doesn't seem able to be pro active and spot what is going wrong and deal with it before it costs us dearly, both on Saturday and last night it has only been luck, the woodwork and poor finishing that has meant that we have taken four points and not zero, if that had been the case then the league table would look very alarming this morning.

Photo: Action Images

TreeHugger added 18:27 - Apr 6 I think it's safe to say we are not close to being in a relegation battle and let's not forgot we have had a very good cup final this season...hardly been bad. It's very hard to find game time sfor the younger players so this is really the perfect time to be playing Stephens and giving him game time till the end of the season. Then we can judge if he has the ability to step up. Yoshida is a great servant He is our number one centre back right now......and is doing a pretty good job. It's about keeping a culture and building for next season now. Let's just enjoy it.

5

DPeps added 19:14 - Apr 6 The yoshida vendetta is getting a bit odd now. I agree that he shouldn't be our number one CB, but the fault there lies with the club, not with the player. He has proved himself to be a good servant and a great defender: good in the air, pacey, and with good positional sense. He scores crucial goals too!
6

TimSaint added 00:53 - Apr 7 I get the impression that Nick didn't attend the game and wrote his report from the very limited Match Of The Day coverage - remembering to mention the usual scapegoats and forgetting to mention the pivotal roles of Tadic, Redmond, Cedric and Romeu. OR He has been listening to TalkSport too frequently and has reverted to the Adrian Durham technique of saying controversial things in order to gain fan responses.

2

hmmm added 07:13 - Apr 7 A comment from a Palace fan site is quite a good summary: Across the 90 minutes, Southampton effectively thrashed us. Yes, we scored a free flowing and beautiful goal and hit the post twice, however, they cut us open at will and only repeated excellent work from Hennessey kept the score down. http://rednbluearmy.co.uk/match-reports/2016-17/southampton-3-1-crystal-palace
2

SaintPaulVW added 09:11 - Apr 7 Yoshida and Stephens looked okay to me. The problem was initially down the other end. The poor shot/conversion ratio that has plagued us most of the season. Overall, we did well to withstand and eventually overcome a physically huge Palace side that were on a bit of a roll. Struck me as a typical EPL match, both sides had plenty of chances which is what makes it all so exciting. So COYR. 8th is still just about doable at a push.

1

SaintNick added 09:44 - Apr 7 A fair few of you seem to think that Yoshida and Stephens are Premier League quality, I would point out these facts as to why I dont think they are. 1. In every match they are found wanting at some point, sometimes punished with a goal and sometimes not, against Palace I will give one example when each was sub standard neither incident resulted in a goal, in the first half Palace played a long high goal into our penalty area, Stephens lost his man who unchallenged nodded it back for a chance 8 yards out which was blazed over. Second half Yoshida didnt even get close when the ball was smacked against Forsters right post . I try to look at the overall game not just when goals are conceded, there were more incidents than just this one. 2. Ask yourself how many Premier league clubs have tried to sign either ? 3. Ask yourself how many times Championship clubs have tried to sign either. 4. Ask yourself how many Premier League clubs defences either would get into on a regular basis. 5. Having answered none to the last three questions, ask yourself why they should be good enough for our defence. 6. I do not dislike either of these players, I want them to do well for us, but I m realistic to realise the situation. In the case of Yoshida he has now been here 5 seasons and apart from perhaps the first one has always been back up, there is a good reason for that, yes he is a good back up, I dont question that, however he is not good enough to be played week in week out, especially not with an untried "youngster" In the case of Stephens he is now 23 has been at the club for 6 years, yet till January has never got near a place in our first team in the league, he did well on loan in League One, but couldnt get in Middlesbrough's team in the Championship, there is a reason for that, he wasnt good enough. 7. Apart from the Sunderland game in every other game we have either conceded soft goals or not conceded as against Bournemouth on Saturday more by poor finsihing than good defending

-4

TimSaint added 10:34 - Apr 7 Everyone is aware that we are playing our 3rd and 4th choice defenders and yes they struggle at times, but this is all we have. This is due to injuries, sales and the manager either seeing something in Caceres that doesn't quite fit, or he has simply been signed as cover and will only be played (and paid appearance money) in emergency. We cannot do anything about it til the summer, so it is best to support the team rather than slag everyone off at every opportunity. We are in the Prem, so are against some of the best players in the world, so we will be exposed at the back at times. I don't buy the mistakes argument - yes we make our fair share - but equally so do lot of other players and other teams Take Sahko for example- a man in demand in Jan transfer window. He had a mare against us, littered with mistakes. See where he was for each of our goals, his poor heading etc and of course watch our goals v Liverpool last season and see where Sahko is for each of our 3 goals. what we are capable of with a striker who knows where the goal is Interesting that you mention poor finising. We have seen what we are capable of wit a proven scorer, but like our best defender and other main striker, he is injured. Therefore we have to again rely on 3rd and 4th choice and it shows. Against both Palace and Bournemouth, with better finishing, we could have had the game wrapped up before half time. We failed to take our chances and struggled at times, but hey, that is typical Saints. We cannot change anything til the summer, so let's get behind the team, rather than the usual blame culture. See you all at West Brom. COYS

3

perazi added 10:45 - Apr 7 Nick, a piece of friendly advice - don't confuse your opinion with "facts". Try for a bit more objectivity and your comments will be more appreciated. As it stands, quite a few people are tempted to bypass your facts and go straight to the comments.
2

aceofthebase added 12:05 - Apr 7 I take back my apology, Nick you are becoming a boring old F**t and despite your age and immaculate record keeping your opinions are absolute trash. I like many others would now prefer to listen to other contributors. Hang up your boots, Nick you are league 2 material now.
-1

BoondockSaint added 13:27 - Apr 7 Hi Nick, Unfortunately, you could apply the same questions to JWP, and the vast majority of the team this year-with the lone exception of Gabbiadini-otherwise Les would have sold them by now! Yes Yoshida and Stephens are not perfect, but they have improved over last year-which you can't say about the rest of the team. And since this is "Disagree with Nick Day", Here's a Sky article that looks like they read my post of a couple of weeks ago! http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11669/10827329/liverpools-struggles-witho

2

Blogs 31 bloggers

Birmingham City Polls