Saturday 13th August 2016,
Premier League, Selhurst Park, Kick-Off 3:00pm |
|
Crystal Palace |
0 -
1 |
West Bromwich Albion |
|
0 - 0 |
|
|
|
Rondón (74) |
|
|
|
|
Managers |
|
Alan Pardew |
|
Tony Pulis |
|
|
|
|
Starting XI |
|
Wayne Hennessy |
|
Ben Foster |
Joel Ward |
|
Craig Dawson |
(c) Scott Dann |
|
Gareth McAuley |
Damien Delaney |
|
Jonas Olsson |
(Kelly 90+3)
Pape Souaré |
|
Jonny Evans |
Mile Jedinak |
|
Matt Phillips |
(Cabaye 77)
Jason Puncheon |
|
Darren Fletcher (c) |
Andros Townsend |
|
Claudio Yacob |
(Bolasie 66)
Lee Chung-yong |
|
Craig Gardner (McClean 71) |
Wilfried Zaha |
|
Salomón Rondón |
Connor Wickham |
|
Saido Berahino (Morrison 86) |
|
Substitutes |
|
(gk) Julian Speroni |
|
James Morrison |
Martin Kelly |
|
Boaz Myhill (gk) |
Yohan Cabaye |
|
James McClean |
Joe Ledley |
|
Rickie Lambert |
Yannick Bolasie |
|
Jonathan Leko |
Keshi Anderson |
|
Sam Field |
Freddie Ladapo |
|
Kane Wilson |
|
Bookings |
|
(dissent 84) Zaha |
|
Dawson (foul 35) |
(dangerous play 87) Bolasie |
|
Evans (foul 84) |
|
|
Attendance:
24,490 |
|
Referee:
Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire) |
Assistant 01:
Harry Lennard
(East Sussex) |
Assistant 02:
Adrian Holmes (West Yorkshire) |
Fourth Official:
Andrew Madley
(West Yorkshire) |
|
|
Official Matchday
Programme |
|
|
● The victory is
Albion's first in a season-opener away from The Hawthorns since 1973
(Blackpool 3-2). |
● Matt Phillips
makes his competitive debut for the club. |
MATCH REPORT
West Brom began the new Premier
League season with a promising 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace. In their first
competitive fixture since it was announced Chinese investor Guochuan Lai had
agreed a takeover deal, Salomon Rondon's second-half header proved enough to
defeat their uninspiring hosts. Alan Pardew's Palace had been the more creative
team without looking likely to score amid West Brom's fine defending. Their
defeat owed largely to the same as so many of those from last season - the lack
of a goalscoring threat. It is little secret Palace's pre-season had been
undermined by their players' exploits at Euro 2016. Yohan Cabaye's involvement
in France's run to the final, and Joe Ledley's with semi-finalists Wales, meant
both began their 2016/17 preparations late. Yannick Bolasie - who is reportedly
close to concluding a £30million transfer to Everton - joined them on the bench.
In their absence, the hosts' creative responsibility was with club-record
signing Andros Townsend and Wilfried Zaha.
The latter's presence on the
left in a 4-3-3 restricted him throughout the first half, when the £13million
Townsend provided little beyond one shot from midfield comfortably saved by Ben
Foster. Rondon had earlier had a threatening eighth-minute header well saved by
Wayne Hennessey, fit to start despite also featuring with Wales. Connor Wickham
also sent a close-range shot wide when well-placed from in front of goal, his
miss characterising the half's lack of quality in the final third.
Pardew attempted to address that
at half-time by switching Townsend and Zaha, and he was almost rewarded
immediately. Chung-yong Lee played Zaha into space with a fine, 51st-minute
through-ball which allowed him to use his pace to go one-on-one with Foster.
Then his poor decision-making that often undermines his performances - and which
may have hampered his time at Manchester United - again reappeared. One too many
touches meant his first shot presented the impressive Foster with a routine
save. When the ball came straight back to him he then delayed shooting until his
best chance had passed, allowing the diving Foster to save again. Bolasie
replaced Lee - following the warmest of receptions from the home fans - as a
66th-minute substitute. Shortly after, West Brom's James McClean came on for
Craig Gardner. Perhaps seeking McClean's spontaneity, Tony Pulis then watched
the winger change the game. From a 74th-minute right-wing free-kick, he crossed
towards Rondon and the striker, under little pressure, comfortably headed beyond
Hennessey inside the far post. Pardew responded by bringing on Cabaye for Jason
Puncheon, but at that point the absence of #10million signing James Tomkins
seemed more relevant. The defender remains sidelined with a hamstring injury,
and his new team will need his return to address that defensive flaw. In the
79th-minute Bolasie was tripped on the edge of the area but referee Craig Pawson
chose to play on. By then, amid West Brom's organised defending, it had become
clear a set-piece was their likeliest chance of a goal.
Sporting Life
|