Crystal Palace 2 - West Bromwich Albion 0

Summary:

Despite starting the game as the only Premier League team yet to concede away from home, Albion crashed to defeat at Crystal Palace after looking second best for pretty much the whole game. Their cause wasn't helped by Jonny Evans needing to be substituted mid-way through the first half due to injury, but they managed to make it through to half time when Saido Berahino, who'd hardly seen the ball, was taken off in favour of Craig Gardner.

Palace took the lead through Yannick Bolasie in the 68th minute when he headed home a cross from Yohan Cabaye. Albion responded by bringing on Callum McManaman for James Morrison, but with a minute left to play Chris Brunt brought down Wilfried Zaha in the box and Cabaye put away the spot kick.

The win lifted Palace into third place and left Albion in fifteenth, although by the end of the day other results had pushed them down to seventeenth.

Illawaysbeabaggie:

I'm usually content to read other people's comments and reports, and haven't posted for ages, but today's match (if that's the correct description) has tipped me over the edge.

Not able to go to the game, I watched it live online, and couldn't help squirming in my seat in embarrassment as I watched the team/club I've supported all of my life, made to play in a way which drew jeers of derision from all corners of the ground, and withering comments from the commentators and pundits for the awful, clogging, 'park the bus', negative tactics that Pulis now regularly uses away from home.

Albion plumbed the depths ignominy by attaining (at one stage) a shameful 34% possession, with barely an effort on CPs goal. Why? Because our head coach appears too lacking in imagination or courage to actually trust allowing the players to express themselves, and for them to at least TRY and compete with their opponents.

While we may not have a squad replete with talent, we do have match winners and experienced professionals - who must hate being shackled to a regime which makes them appear inept and second rate. When they actually DO get the ball, they have no outlet, as all of the team is instructed to play so deep that pressing the game for the opposition is child's play, and possession rapidly breaks down - not helped by our legendary inability to actually string more than two passes together anyway - do they actually practice keeping the ball at ALL in training?

Why, (if your intention at the outset is to play all out for a stonewall draw, and hope for a fluky, breakaway winner) did we bother having two strikers on the bench? Why on earth was Berahino taken off at half-time, and subbed once again for the ineffective Gardener?? Bizarre.

When Pulis was appointed last season I welcomed it, as I knew he would keep us up, and so it transpired. Now, I really think he is rapidly being revealed as tactically naïve, unimaginative, stubborn, and lacking in courage.

How can any group of professionals enjoy being told to play in such a way? Judging from the boos of discontent following the Everton result, he is losing support rapidly on the terraces. How long can it be before he loses the support of the players?

Disgruntled, depressed, frustrated and thoroughly p****d off!

(Rant over)

Sarky Parky:

I could not agree more. We are rapidly becoming a laughing stock. In an age when EVERY other Premiership club knows it is vital to try and win and play fast, entertaining attacking football. I know for some it doesn't succeed (witness Villa, Newcastle and Sunderland) but none of them sends the team out to park the bus and play for a draw to such an extent that even in a home game against Southampton we managed less than 40% possession. No one else would send the team out against Port Vale packed with central defenders and holding midfielders. We've won two games - 1-0 against a Stoke side down to 9 men after 30 minutes, and 1-0 against Villa courtesy of a Berahino deflection and the referee failing to apply the advantage rule.

All this must be dreadfully depressing for the strikers - Berahino who failed to leave during the window, and Rondon who probably never dreamed he was coming to this kind of football. Our most potent attacker has been McManaman who only ever comes on as a sub, the Arsenal youngster has never been tried, and Sessegnon seems to have disappeared completely. I would suspect that the players are totally de-motivated - and if they're not, they very soon will be.

Next week's game against Sunderland is vital both for Advocaat and for Pulis. Last season Pulis said it would be a struggle to keep the team up. Well he can't blame what he inherited anymore as this is now HIS team, his preferred tactics - no real fullbacks, no midfielders who are encouraged to attack, no attempt to blood any youngsters.

This is rapidly becoming a crisis situation and two more defeats will probably seal Pulis's fate. Peace is no fool. He got Pulis in to protect his investment and keep the club in the Premiership. Well he did that last year but this is a whole new ball game with Pulis completely in charge. But much more of this and even the TP apologists will surely realise that either the manager has to change his tactics, or the manager has to be changed.

Mark Townsend:

Possession 40%, 2 shots on target

First game in October, yet clearly we have been found out. At least it took a few months for the the rest of the league to see what Clarke could do with our meagre resources and by then we had a lot of points.

Under Pulis we are dire, nobody is taken by surprise and we don't have many points.

Go on, remind me how good he is and while you're at it tell me he likes to attack.

No doubt the players insisted he removed our outlet again and left them under unrelenting pressure.

michael mills:

Haven't posted since the Mowbray years, but always attend games, and grade performances.

Now feel compelled to post, because we are a mess, and in a free fall crisis. Pulis is a stubborn, one eyed, negative leader, who coaches anti football, and refuses to compromise. So slow, so lacking in creativity. So lacking in penetration, and so error ridden in defense, with no fullbacks, and players out of position.

Too much more of this tripe and dross, and I lose the will to live.

P.s. Please tell me, what is the point of Craig Gardener???

Andy Highfield:

The second away game I have been too this season after Watford. I didn't think it could get worse than Watford but it has!

The game plan was solely around a 0-0. There was no decent passing. I felt sorry for the players, any imagination or thought has been bashed out of them. At least with some of the poor Irvine performances, we had Sessegnon for a bit of magic and to keep the ball and leave the fans a little entertained.

It is criminal that no local or national journalist has even teased the subject of Sessegnon and how such a good player has been sidelined.

I think the nature of Pulis and his plan was summed up in bringing on Gardner to help Brunt. It worked and kept Zaha quieter in the second half, but they simply just exposed Chester then. A less completely defensive minded coach would surely have asked Yacob or Fletcher to fill in and allow Berahino to get up the pitch and add some creativity or Sessegnon, if he could get near the squad.

The worry for Peace must be not only another 17th or so placed finish but that these players could lose all their value. We have not bought hidden gems here, we have spent good money on players who could be worth half by the end of the season under Pulis.

I was watching a few videos of the Mowbray seasons the other day, some of it may have been nostalgia but bloody hell it looked exciting! Koumas, Kamara etc. But then his style did not work in the Premier League either.

I've not known the Albion fans that quiet for a while, I went to the Palace away game a couple of seasons ago with the same kick off under Pepe Mel, it was some of the best noise and support from the fans I have ever heard as we lost 3-1. Today any enthusiasm was gone after 10 minutes.

I don't see the argument of Pulis 'is the best we can get',' it would be worse if he went' etc. The chairman needs to take a gamble and the potential of relegation but the fact we don't have better succession planning in place is a weakness anyways. Like Ashworth used to have 2-3 players in each position at different values to choose from, we should have a list of 3-5 coaches who fit a more effective playing style lined up in the background

For what its worth Mark Warburton would be my choice. Unproven yes, but great playing style and improves players, allowing them to play. The way Tavernier plays in that Rangers team (Admittedly a much better player than the Scottish Championship) is superb.

Brendan Clegg:

I agree with what everyone else has been saying - and I've been saying this for weeks. I wont repeat many of the points that others have made, will just try and add some further.

Firstly, we really need to stick with the players. We all have our favourites and scapegoats but they are not stupid. I'd say we've got a pretty good and honest set who give their best, but they are being hung out to dry by the selections and tactics of the manager. I'd love to know what some of them really think about how they are being asked to play and where they are being asked to play.

What is the point of Craig Gardner? He's a hard working, aggressive centre midfielder with a decent shot on him and a fantastic attitude. He probably isn't good enough for us in this role but he is decent cover - all squads need players like this. It's unfair to blame him when he's asked to play as a winger when he has neither pace nor trickery. Would we be as harsh on Yacob if he was asked to play there. I say this as someone who was critical of his signing and reiterated the point in the Summer that releasing players with more quality (Dorrans, Mulumbu) whilst retaining him was a mistake.

Olsson gets abuse yet the reality is he's still our 3rd best option at centre half. He's given great service, his game or quality have barely changed during his time here but we have improved - despite what it looks like at the moment.

Brunt is another player I've bemoaned loads of times in the past but he was totally hung out to dry yesterday. He was actually doing OK until the horrible smack in the face he got and from then on he looked and played like a sitting duck. He'd have struggled anyway but he clearly wasn't right - mildy concussed or shaken probably. In the absence of having our international left back in the squad, McLean could've been moved to left back to at least play on his natural side and have recovery pace against Zaha.

Chester looks a real turkey - but then I can't think of anyone in the Summer who was saying "Let's go out and sign that James Chester from Hull". Bizarre signing, the lad clearly hasn't got what's needed at this level but because of his price tag has to take up a place on the bench that better players could be filling.

I could go on and on. All in all I thought there were actually some incredible defensive performances yesterday but we simply had no way out - it was like a 90 minute training exercise.

Pulis's comments after the game spoke volumes - he blamed the players who had been so good in a marginal 1-0 away win at Villa (who had no strikers and no midfielders). So many holes in that garbage.

He played arguably the best young English striker on the left wing again. He played McLean on the right again. Result, no crosses for our isolated and bewildered lone forward. A forward who he rightly said is looking jaded - perish the thought he might put a real winger on, give Rondon a rest and play Saido in the only place he should be playing, up front!

We he did make changes they were baffling - Gardner again for our only threat, Morrison(!) for McManaman who was also played on the wrong wing. This is a guy who plays Victor Anichebe in the holding role!

The idea that there isn't anyone better available is fantasy. Nigel Pearson is a bit of a weirdo but knows what he is doing and is proven and available. Gary Rowett is doing an unbelievable job in Pompey-like circumstances at Blues. Warburton, McInnes - even Harry Redknapp could not do a worse job than Pulis.

Why wait to see results in the next couple of games when the long term decline is obvious? Peace didn't think he'd still be around to have this problem, that's the truth, but he needs to sort it out now.

Fortunately for us Villa, Newcastle, Sunderland & Watford are all really poor sides and Bournemouth's season looks like it's been ruined by injuries to key players that a newly promoted side can't recover from. This means we can gamble more than we could've last year.

Sunderland are likely to have a new manager in place for our next game. Dreading it already.

• Myhill - 6 Made some good saves but a good keeper would've been out to punch or collect the cross for the first goal.
• Dawson - 7 Started wobbly but was heroic defensively.
• GMac - 8 Another towering performance in adversity.
• Evans - 6 Started the game really well so it was a shame he got injured.
• Brunt - 4 Horribly exposed.
• Yacob - 8 Some silly fouls but the sheer number of interceptions earns the score. Also kept the ball well but had no options.
• Fletcher - 6 struggled against their pace but threw himself into everything. Time and time again he was great on the ball in twisting away to give himself time to play a pass only to see there was no release available.
• Mozza - 7 I think he played in about 4 different positions but as our only player capable of carrying the ball forward intelligently he had to come off.
• McLean - 6 Great effort but erratic. All our best situations fell to him and he doesn't have the calmness or quality to capitalise.
• Saido - 5 Individually there were moments where his touch, strength and skill were way beyond anyone else on our team but he looked lost positionally.
• Rondon - 5 Starved of service, he looked tired and frustrated yet still forced plenty of errors by working their back line.

• Chester - 4 Isn't physically imposing, particularly quick or good on the ball. What did the scouting reports say exactly?
• Gardner - 4 As normal, out of position, tried his best, limited.
• McManaman - 5 Out of position, cut a frustrated figure although did cause them a few problems with his pace. Too little too late.

BilneyBoinger:

Have watched Albion for over 30 years. Would like to point out that under Pullis we are defence first but Sessegnon is not a player for us as he is 1) small 2) not good defensively and 3) hopeless in front of goal. I mean the real let down for any player who is an attacking midfielder. Gardner gets a lot of stick on your site but does he actually make that many errors? He provides defensive cover on the wing and against Palace that is what was needed. Was Saido doing that? No! The biggest thing Pulis needs to do is stop playing 4-4-2. Woy played 4-5-1 in the end. It's Rondon or Saido. Not both.

Get the defence back and that means Dawson/GMac/Evans/Brunt and we will win games again. Top half defence.

Yes we were poor in possession at Palace. But the team was rocked by another injury at CB.