Do not think this is a typing error or attempt to adjust your television sets while watching Match of the Day on Saturday evening. Yes, Crystal Palace won a Premier League game without Wilfried Zaha.
The last time that happened was away at now-League One Sunderland on September 24, 2016 – a staggering 812 days ago. At last, that statistic can be shelved.
Since then, all 13 of their outings without Zaha had ended in defeat. Until now, courtesy of their one and only shot on target in this victory over Leicester.
Palace took the lead in the 39th minute. Before that, their two frontmen had lacked any bite.
Jordan Ayew had looked lost, like someone accidentally left in the stadium after closing time and scrambling to find a way out. Andros Townsend looked like a winger asked to do the job of a striker, which is precisely what he is.
So in the absence of any attacking threat, Luka Milivojevic stepped up. The club captain whipped in a curled strike that secured them what could turn out to be a crucial Premier League win.
Milivojevic’s strike really was a diamond in the rough. This was a match that lacked quality.
Manager Roy Hodgson had made a strange request at his pre-match press conference, as if he was King Leonidas rallying his troops in the film ‘300’. He told his squad to make sure they were the ones bathing in the loser’s blood, rather than the other way around.
They were bathing, alright, though it was in the pouring rain of south London. Whatever he said to his players in private did not ignite any passion from them at the start of this Premier League tie.
There was nothing of note to report from the first 25 minutes. The Selhurst Park half-time highlights selectors were scratching their heads at what to show.
We had witnessed one shot – a wild effort from Wilfred Ndidi that found Row Z. Other than that, nada, zip, zilch worth mentioning. Excitement was in short supply at Selhurst.
After half hour, Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita got his feet tangled. Jamie Vardy sensed an opportunity to steal the ball and did so, before tapping into the vacant net. Trouble is, referee Michael Oliver deemed he felled the Premier League debutant to pinch possession.
Vardy then tested Guaita with a tame header, the game’s first shot on target in the 32nd minute.
Then, out of nowhere, Palace had the lead. Based on their first-half performance, it was wholly underserved, though you could not fault the hit from Milivojevic.
It was Palace’s first shot on or off target but what a way to kick things off in the 39th minute. Milivojevic was 25 yards from his target, took a touch then whipped it beyond Kasper Schmeichel.
It woke Selhurst Park up. Since his Premier League debut in February 2017, Milivojevic has scored more times for Palace than any other player. He got a sweet 16th here.
So Hodgson’s side had their half-time lead, as surprising as it was, and they sensed a chance to put their Zaha hoodoo to bed.
The last meeting between Palace and Leicester saw the Eagles win 5-0, as they all but ensured Premier League safety. Six of the starting XI from that day were in Claude Puel’s line-up here.
Vardy was one of them and with 10 minutes remaining, he had only Guaita to beat. On an angle, he sent a toe-poke towards goal, which the goalkeeper pushed on to the post.
The ball bounced back into play and could have went anywhere. Luckily for Palace and unluckily for Leicester, it rolled into Guaita’s arms as he was lying on the ground.
It was a superb save from the top-flight debutant and Vardy slapped the crossbar in frustration.
With that, Palace had their win. A drenched Hodgson walked down the touchline and lifted his fist towards the fans. Goodbye Zaha curse, hello a reason to be cheerful ahead of facing Manchester City next.
