BY ANDREW MCSTEEN
Crystal Palace defenders Maxence Lacroix and Daniel Munoz have drawn praise from their goalkeeper Dean Henderson – but for their goalscoring, not defensive, form.
Centre-back Lacroix and wing-back Munoz ensured that the Eagles left Selhurst Park with a point on Saturday thanks to a 2-2 draw with champions Manchester City.
Colombian international Munoz slotted home within five minutes of the start to put the Eagles 1-0 ahead before a clinical header from Erling Haaland on the half-hour mark levelled the game.
But Palace responded again with summer signing Lacroix heading home from a Will Hughes corner to put the hosts 2-1 ahead with just 10 minutes of the second half gone. City equalised again 10 minutes later, through Rico Lewis, but the England defender was then sent off for a second yellow with the home side unable to find the winner and having to settle for a point.
“The boys have been phenomenal, especially the backline, and for them to get goals and score from a set-piece as well, it’s something we’ve been working on a lot,” Henderson told the _South London_ Press.
“So now, hopefully, we can continue doing that and adding to the set-pieces. Whoever gets the goals, it doesn’t matter. It’s important that we pick up points at this stage.”
Crystal Palace v Newcastle United – Premier League, Selhurst Park, 30 November 2024
Picture: Keith Gillard
Munoz has scored twice in the last two home games, his strike against Newcastle the previous Saturday ensuring a point in a 1-1 draw, part of a run which has seen Palace go unbeaten in their last four games to move out of the relegation places.
And their performance against the current Premier League, FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup champions, with numerous chances missed, especially in the first half, suggested a missed opportunity for just their third league win of the season.
“You never know what to expect, but you \[at least\] expect a really tough game,” said England goalkeeper Henderson about facing Pep Guardiola’s side. “For them to come out after us and create loads of chances, we dealt with it well, rode the storm and then caught them on the break for the first goal.
“It’s disappointing (to not win), because we feel like the game was there for us. We created a lot of chances, but just didn’t quite get enough on goal, and, unfortunately, that’s why we’ve come out with a draw.
“Before the game, if someone offers you a point, you’re obviously over the moon with it, so you take the rough with the smooth. It’s been a really good week, a three-game week as well.
“Today, it was tired legs out there and you could see that at the end. When they went down to 10, we didn’t quite have the energy to kick on.”
PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD