BY ADAM SELLS
Crystal Palace beat relegation candidates Southampton 2-0 on Saturday afternoon.
The Eagles claimed all three points – and their third win in a row since Roy Hodgson returned – thanks to a second-half brace from Eberechi Eze.
Here are Adam Sells’ takeaways from St Mary’s:
THINGS ARE LOOKING UP
After three back-to-back victories following the return of Roy Hodgson and Ray Lewington, I suddenly find myself looking up the table rather than the teams below.
Palace are now just four points away from the traditional ‘40 points’ safety mark.
Victory over rock-bottom Southampton means that there is now a 13-point gap between the two teams. Three games ago, and prior to the managerial change, the gap was at just four points.
Can Palace continue this run?
In this form and with Wilfried Zaha to return, the Eagles still have 21 points to play for. If the next two results are favourable, the South Londoners could be targeting their best Premier League points total. With nine points from nine, the top half is now not so far away.
IRREPRESSIBLE EZE
Eberechi Eze was sensational – tricks and flicks and two great finishes. The South London boy was at his impudent best in Hampshire.
A confident, in-form Eze is an absolute joy to watch. He is unrecognisable from the player in the latter stages of Patrick Viera’s reign.
The gentleman that is Roy Hodgson played down his role in his dynamic midfielder’s return to form, but it is clear there is much love and respect on both sides.
The former Queens Park Rangers man is hitting the high notes again, and if it continues, it won’t be long before Gareth Southgate is taking a seat in the directors’ box at Selhurst Park.
MITCHELL HAS HIS MOJO BACK
Like Eze, Tyrick Mitchell was bang in form at St Mary’s.
Those at Southampton saw Mitchell on the front foot, bold and with his chest out – his defending was top-class.
Hodgson, post-match, said he was “hugely impressed,” and I would hazard a guess that the feeling is mutual.
In terms of personality, Mitchell and Eze seem quite similar, and it seems that the new management team have an approach that seems to bring the best out of the highly talented pair. Ditto Jeffrey Schlupp.
I guess there’s no substitute for experience.
MCCARTHY IS A WINNER IN EVERY SENSE
Paddy McCarthy is a hugely popular and respected figure at the club.
His character makes him a man-made for management.
Already well on his way in his coaching career and admired by clubs, McCarthy is playing his part in the Palace resurgence.
The likeable Irishman must be soaking up every moment of working alongside two such experienced coaches.
An invaluable learning curve which must be of huge benefit for the years ahead.
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