Middlesbrough 1-2 C PalaceHome team scorersDaniel Ayala 38
Away team scorersChristian Benteke 16
Wilfried Zaha 47
Alan Pardew is convinced his two biggest summer-time coups were acquiring Christian Benteke and keeping hold of Wilfried Zaha. That assessment was fully vindicated as the pair not only scored a goal apiece but, at times, thoroughly unnerved, and over-powered, Middlesbrough. This dual impact left Crystal Palace celebrating a first Premier League win of the season and their latterly much criticised manager breathing a little easier.
Pardew was sufficiently relaxed to sit watching the lunchtime Manchester derby in The Riverside’s press room. Having relocated to the technical area, he remained similarly unruffled throughout most of an unremarkable first half illuminated by the moment Christian Benteke headed Palace into the lead following the much-coveted Zaha’s cleverly angled right-wing cross.
The £27m centre-forward, recently arrived from Liverpool, easily out-jumped the normally dominant Dani Ayala to direct a wonderful looping effort beyond Víctor Valdés’s reach. While Pardew restricted his celebrations to jotting some notes on a pad, a young visiting substitute seated behind him could not contain his delight.
Grinning from ear to ear, Jonathan Benteke, Christian’s younger brother and fellow striker, applauded enthusiastically as his sibling not only scored a first goal for the club but Palace’s strategy of playing to their lone forward’s strengths started paying dividends.
Zaha’s crossing proved key to this gameplan and when the winger’s pace swept him beyond George Friend another fine centre resulted in Benteke cueing Andros Townsend up for a very presentable shooting chance. This time though, Valdés was equal to the challenge, saving smartly – but with slightly better placement Townsend would surely have scored.
Bar an early Álvaro Negredo volley which flashed wide in the wake of decent work from Stewart Downing and Adam Forshaw – keeping Marten de Roon on the bench and enjoying a decent game in central midfield – Boro were firmly on the back foot.
Little had gone right for Karanka’s players when, finally, they rediscovered a measure of the ruthless efficiency which underpinned last season’s escape from the Championship. As if to atone for his part in the opening goal, Ayala dodged Damien Delaney before connecting with Downing’s corner.
This most convincing Benteke impression continued as the centre half powered a header that an arguably slightly slow to react Steve Mandanda touched but could not hold towards the top corner.
Relief flooded the Riverside but it swiftly became tinged with slight disappointment as Boro spurned a chance to take an unlikely lead on the brink of half time. Viktor Fischer had endured a frustrating afternoon in the central attacking role behind Negredo in Karanka’s 4-2-3-1 formation but his superb through ball left the lone striker clean through.
Home fans held their breath as, for a moment, time seemed to stand still but determined not to be out-witted again so quickly, Mandanda successfully second guessed Negredo’s attempted shot.
Boro’s revival presumably informed Pardew’s half time homily and, suggesting his players’ had taken heed, Palace restored their lead two minutes into the new half. Initially it looked as if McArthur’s pass would be too short for Zaha but, aided by a horrible mistake from the normally dependable Friend, the winger was able to collect the ball.
A mortified Friend must have felt like watching through his fingers as Zaha, who had out-muscled him before effectively hijacking possession, proceeded to stroke a shot beyond Valdés’s grasp.
Once again, Boro rallied. Downing sent a ferocious left foot shot zipping marginally wide and, venturing forward from centre half, Ben Gibson used his left foot to test Valdés from distance, the keeper doing well to divert the danger for a corner.
Opting for fresh legs, Karanka replaced Fischer and Adam Clayton with Gastón Ramírez and De Roon respectively. Ramírez, who surely should have started, quickly fazed Palace but took until five minutes before being booked for dissent.
Boro first league defeat beckoned but Karanka’s players did their utmost to prevent it. Annoyed that they were not awarded a penalty for Scott Dann’s perceived handball offence, Boro supporters could not believe their eyes when Martin Kelly’s last-gasp clearance prevented Negredo from equalising from close range after Mandanda had parried Ramírez’s shot.
There was still time for Palace – for whom Jonathan had replaced Christian Benteke – to survive further, albeit always unlikely, penalty appeals against Delaney (suspected handball) and Zaha (felling Friend) – as they inched towards a victory that, for the moment at least, relieves all sorts of pressure on Pardew.
Guardian
