Crystal Palace’s failure to replicate Everton performance against Chelsea a frustration for Joel Ward

BY SAM SMITH

Joel Ward was frustrated that Crystal Palace were unable to replicate their good performance against Everton in their 4-1 defeat by Chelsea.

The South Londoners played well on Merseyside a week ago and were deserving of their 1-1 draw. However, the display against the Blues yesterday was the complete opposite – particularly in a first half-hour in which they conceded three goals.

“It’s tough. When you go down that early on against a side like that it’s always going to be a mountain to climb. I think it was a little too late by the time we started playing the football that we did [against Everton],” Ward told Premier League Productions.

“It’s frustrating to concede the goals we did. We pride ourselves on being a team that will fight and limit chances and today we really gave them the early goals.

“We have to try to find some positives. In the second-half there were a few glimpses of what we’re about, Christian [Benteke] up top deserved his goal and when Jeff [Schlupp] came on he changed the game.

“We dust ourselves down, we go again. There’s never an easy game in the Premier League. Look at the performance against Everton[and] look at this performance – they’re very different. One week to another, the Premier League is a battle. We’ll take the break now, come back fighting and make sure we try to put things right as soon as possible.”

Palace now have a two-week break, with next Saturday’s proposed fixture against Southampton postponed due to the Saints’ involvement in the FA Cup and yet to be given a new date.