A goal Roy Hodgson described as a “wonder-header” by Danny Welbeck ensured Crystal Palace’s winless run will stretch past Christmas, but there were plenty of positives for his side.
After Thursday night’s 1-1 home draw with rivals Brighton made it seven games without a victory, Hodgson said: “I don’t believe the players could be doing much better than they’re doing at the moment.”
That could certainly be said of Michael Olise, who put on a performance befitting of the high regard the Palace faithful hold him in.
The way he ran at Brighton with the ball, harried them without it and carried the hosts up the pitch at Selhurst Park made it easy to forget that he only recently returned from a four-month hamstring injury.
With Eberechi Eze only appearing from the bench as Palace ease him back from an ankle injury, the Eagles might have been in trouble had they not been able to count on Olise’s close control and ability to glide across the turf and into the final third.
Olise played four key passes - more than any of his team-mates - and it was he who controlled Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen’s hashed clearance, which allowed him to cross onto the head of Jordan Ayew to assist Palace’s opener.
That was their first goal in the first half of a match since November 11, and for most of the second half they hoped it would prove enough to grant them their first home win since September 3.
Brighton grew in the second half as Palace retreated just a little too much a little too early. Hodgson felt his side “didn’t win the ball enough”, and that was true, but when Olise pinched it he seldom lost it.
At one point, the 21-year-old flicked the ball over a defender to win a free-kick. Then he played a nonchalant pass through the legs of Joao Pedro, who simply threw his head to the sky in disgust.
Jean-Philippe Mateta was tidy too. While he did not add to goals against Liverpool and Manchester City, he held the ball up effectively and one shrewd touch saw him skip past Lewis Dunk after combining well with Olise.
Palace face Chelsea next on December 27, so the fixtures do not get any easier for the Eagles. Hodgson must think of the positives. The wait for victory goes on, but Olise gives Palace genuine hope.
