Canvot impresses in resolute Palace defence
[Getty Images] After the joyous celebrations that followed qualifying for the Conference League semi-finals on Thursday, it was back to the grind for Crystal Palace. And for much of the game, that is what it was for Palace - a grind. But while Oliver Glasner made four changes to the team that started at Fiorentina, they all came further up the pitch as he stuck with his trusted goalkeeper and back five.
The outcome was a 12th clean sheet of the season to extend the Eagles' unbeaten run in the league to four games. Dean Henderson's superb save and Maxence Lacroix's block were the vital moments in ensuring another shutout but the efforts of 19-year-old Jaydee Canvot to limit the threat of West Ham talisman Jarrod Bowen were even more impressive. At the other end, it was another frustrating night for £35m January signing Brennan Johnson and it was only when Ismaila Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta came on that Palace started to cause West Ham consistent problems.
While three points would have put Palace right in the mix of the battle for European qualification, a draw keeps them within striking distance and, having experienced the feeling of going deep in Europe this term, their hunger to get back there is only likely to grow.