Wilfried Zaha says Conor Gallagher is inspiring him to raise his level at Crystal Palace, after his late brace wrapped up the club’s first Premier League win of 2022 against Watford.
Zaha scored twice in the final five minutes at Vicarage Road as Palace humiliated their former manager Roy Hodgson, who left the south London club last summer.
Gallagher had earlier put Palace ahead in the first half and Zaha said: “Everyone knows what Conor’s about, the energy and quality he brings to the team.
“Obviously, if I’m competing with people like that I’ve got to step up as well, so it’s good to have someone else to compete against. I have to raise my game.”
Zaha has struggled for his best form this season but he now has eight Premier League goals and wants to help Palace kick on after Patrick Vieira’s side ended their six-match winless League run.
“The team that we have allows me to do what I need to do up front,” he said. “If I get the through balls and the balls over the top, all I really need to work on is my final touch. That is what I’m working on.”
Palace are up to 11th in the table, while relegation-threatened Watford remain in the bottom three and four points from safety.
“It feels amazing,” said Zaha. “I feel like top half of the table is where we should be looking at.”
