Some timely cheer for Palace (From Your Local Guardian)

Some timely cheer for Palace

4:25pm Friday 3rd December 2010

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Palace fans have finally been given something to smile about after last weekend’s 1-0 win over Doncaster at Selhurst Park, which meant Palace have won their last three home games and taken 9 points from a possible 12.

After a worrying few months, which included embarrassing defeats to Scunthorpe, Millwall and Derby, coupled with unlucky losses to Sheffield United and Middleborough, George Burley’s reign was looking to come to an abrupt end but after recent results, the Scot has finally started to please the Palace faithful.

Now that’s not to say that Burley has put himself into Palace folklore.

Throughout the early stages of the season, it was clear that Burley’s football mentality was there but the team struggled to grind out results and this is where it was costly for Palace, so to see three home wins in a row is pleasing.

During the current campaign, Palace haven’t given us fans much to smile about and when it did seem that things would be on the up, they would then go and lose in style; such as a 5-0 defeats to Derby and 3-0 loss to Swansea.

But as I said in a previous blog, it wasn’t all doom and gloom for Palace and I believe this could be the start of Palace’s rise away from the relegation zone and the team can finally start to pick up points.

Many were calling for Burley to be axed after the defeat to Swansea, but after co-chairman Steve Parish reluctantly assured fans that Burley wasn’t going nowhere, it was obvious that patience was required for the fans.

The wait was well worth it, as I haven’t seen Palace win three times at home in a row for a long time.

Another positive we can take from the past four games is that the 3-2 defeat against Sheffield United was no fault of our own, but the dismal performance of the referee that meant Owen Garvan would miss three games and Palace would stay in the bottom three after Sheffield United score two late goals.

Although Palace won the following game 1-0, it is still a case of Palace being in the bottom three but only due to goal difference and the players have finally given Palace something to cheer about.

But where have these results come from?

Many would say the return of playmaker Darren Ambrose and Neil Danns have given Palace a major boost and there is no doubting that, but David Wright’s return to the Palace defence has given Palace the calmness it needed in the back.

No disrespect to Julian Bennett, but I never rated the on-loan Nottingham Forest man and since Wright returned to the first-team fold, the Eagles have kept two clean sheets in their last three games and the former Ipswich man seems to be the perfect replacement for Clint Hill.

Youngster Wilfred Zaha is finally living up to expectations after so much hype surrounding him and after signing a new four-and-a-half year contract in November, the 17-year-old has put in some dazzling performances including the substitute appearance in the 3-2 win at Watford in which he changed the game in an instance.

However, a huge compliment I have to pay George Burley is the formation he used in the win against Doncaster.

With Owen Garvan missing the first of three games due to a ban, Burley decided to play Coungao in the hole behind Vaughan and it paid off hugely.

The Spanish striker showed confidence and technique I have rarely seen from him before and along with his goal in the first-half, he controlled the game and played several inch perfect passes throughout the game.

The sad thing is that James Vaughan’s loan-deal is soon to expire, with the visit to Leeds this Saturday being the Everton man’s last game for Palace, so Burley will have to find the winning formulae again.

Having said this, I am finally starting to show confidence in Burley and the team and I feel that the group of players we have can make something out of this season, whether it is a couple of months late!

If Burley can secure the permanent transfers of Alex Marrow and James Vaughan, along with a couple of January transfer signings, I believe that Palace can kick-start their season and defy the odds once again.

Although the results have come slowly for Palace fans, Burley has secured nine vital points at a very important stage of the season and with the visit to Millwall closely beckoning, Palace fans can hardly stop smiling.

Well I can’t but then I have been told on many occasions that I am too optimistic!

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