Oliver Glasner was pleased with Crystal Palace’s late 1-1 draw at Southampton on Wednesday as he believed his side were mentally tired following their FA Cup quarter-final win over Fulham on Saturday.
Mateta crashed an effort off the crossbar after just two minutes when he spun a Southampton defender and drove forward towards Aaron Ramsdale’s goal.
The Frenchman took aim from distance but saw his shot bounce off the woodwork and away from the net.
Southampton took the lead in the 19th minute and broke Palace’s 12-hour streak of away football without conceding when Paul Onuachu escaped Nathaniel Clyne to head Mateus Fernandes’ cross beyond Dean Henderson.
Mateta went close to drawing Palace level in the 36th minute, but Ramsdale pulled off a brilliant save low down to his left to deny the striker after he turned and shot inside the area.
Glasner made a triple change after 58 minutes, with Daichi Kamada, Eddie Nketiah and Ben Chilwell all coming on, with Clyne, Mateta and Tyrick Mitchell all coming off.
The Austrian boss then brought Matheus Franca in the 76th minute for Daniel Munoz, and the Brazilian attacker, who has suffered an injury-hit spell with the Eagles since joining from Flamengo in August 2023, scored his first Premier League goal as he turned home Jefferson Lerma’s cross in the 92nd minute.
Franca’s goal salvaged a point for the Eagles and kept their unbeaten Premier League away run going from October 21.
“It’s a very good point with how the game was,” said Glasner.
“Everybody could see and feel it.
“We were not on our top level today. We were a bit mentally tired after the big win at Fulham.
“It’s nothing to do with being physically tired. We were fresh.
“We were missing a few percentages in and out of possession.
“We missed a little bit. But I’m really proud of the group and pleased with the point.
“The players felt it as well – we were speaking at half-time about it.
“The symbol of this game was the free-kick from Eberechi Eze in the 89th minute where he kicked the ball in the stands.
“Many teams wouldn’t have come back then but this group stayed together and pushed each other on the pitch.
“We scored the equaliser and I’m really pleased with the spirit. We fought for the point. You need this fight.
“It’s important for us to stay humble. You can’t take it for granted that we go everywhere and get the win.
“Every point in the Premier League, especially away, is a good point.
“This is what Steve Parish told me the first day I arrived.
“I will never forget this.”
PICTURE: ALAMY
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