Crystal Palace defender Scott Dann has talked up Wilfried Zaha’s influence after the winger struck late on at Selhurst Park to earn them a point against rivals Brighton on Monday.
The Ivory Coast international found the net in the Premier League for the third time this season and for a sixth occasion in total in this grudge fixture between the two clubs.
Brighton had dominated much of the encounter and looked set for a third straight win over Palace thanks to Neal Maupay’s opener, but Zaha smashed home with aplomb in the 76th minute to ensure it finished 1-1.
“With the way the game was going, he is the one you are looking to, he is the one who is capable of turning the game on its head and that is what he did,” Dann said.
“That is why he is so important to us and it changed the game. From then on we looked like we could maybe have gone on and nicked it in the end, which is strange to say because we didn’t play well at all.”
Ahead of next month’s transfer window, talk surrounding the future of the Palace academy graduate is already gathering pace.
But the Eagles will welcome the opening of the winter window with a number of injuries to contend with at the moment.
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Joel Ward, Gary Cahill, Patrick Van Aanholt and Andros Townsend missed Monday’s clash with fitness issues, while Mamadou Sakho was suspended.
Gary Cahill has impressed since signing for Crystal Palace in the summer, but will be out for the foreseeable future (Tess Derry/PA)
Makeshift left-back Jairo Riedewald has added to those problems after suffering a hip injury in training on Sunday and being withdrawn at the break against the Seagulls.
It led to boss Roy Hodgson admitting post-match that he hoped the club’s American owners Joshua Harris and David S Blitzer would “release some money” in January.
Centre-back Dann added: “I think until a couple of weeks ago the squad looked strong, especially in certain areas.
“At the back with five centre-backs, but we only had one full-back on either side, so there are areas that we probably do need to strengthen.
Hodgson: “We don’t really go into the transfer market but I’m trying to persuade the American owners in particular that this is something we really do need to do… I don’t think we will be able to bring in the quality of players needed to improve on free transfers or loans #cpfc— George Sessions (@GeorgeSessions) December 16, 2019
“We’ve got away with certain things over the start of the season, being lucky that people have been available.
“At the same time we’re in a good position and there are probably places where the manager and chairman (Steve Parish) will look at and think we need to add.”
The point moved Palace above Arsenal into ninth, while Brighton are 13th but five points clear of the relegation zone.
Maupay, an August signing from Brentford, scored in a third consecutive game for the Seagulls and for the seventh time overall this season.
Brighton’s Neal Maupay (left) has scored in his last three games (Adam Davy/PA)
Brighton manager Graham Potter said: “He was really good, he works so hard for the team.
“A real top personality and tries his best every day, every training session and every game.
“He missed all of pre-season in terms of game time because he came late to us, so he has had to adapt to the Premier League, but he has scored seven goals now and we’re delighted with him.”
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