Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira says talent alone “is not going to be enough” for his side after Saturday’s goalless draw with Brentford left them still searching for their first Premier League win of 2022.
Jordan Ayew skewed a shot wide in the Eagles’ best opening of the match and they also had a late penalty appeal turned down, but other than that the visitors rarely looked like finding a breakthrough.
“It’s fantastic to have talent in your team, but we need a plan together,” Vieira told BBC Match of the Day.
“How can we create chances and score goals? At the moment, that’s a step forward we need to make as a team.”
Brentford, who were without top scorer Ivan Toney through injury, just about shaded the first half and went closest to breaking the deadlock when Bryan Mbeumo was denied by Palace keeper Vicente Guaita in a one-on-one.
Guaita made another fine save to keep out Pontus Jansson’s powerful header in the second half, but there was precious little to shout about in an encounter that lacked both quality and urgency.
The draw lifts Palace above Leicester into 12th – two places and points above Brentford, who sit seven points above the relegation zone.
Bees halt slide as Eriksen introduced
There were jubilant scenes before kick-off as the Bees’ January signing Christian Eriksen was introduced to the Brentford Community Stadium crowd.
The Dane received a warm reception from both sets of supporters – eight months to the day since he suffered a cardiac arrest in a match against Finland at Euro 2020 – but Bees boss Thomas Frank admitted it would be “too early” to play his 29-year-old compatriot against Patrick Vieira’s side. He will instead feature in a friendly on Monday.
“I hope someone could record [Eriksen’s reception],” Frank told BBC Match of the Day. “I’m pleased that the Crystal Palace fans applauded him. It’ll be a big moment in world football when he steps out on to the pitch to play.
“We’re pleased he’s with us, but we’d have supported him whichever club he was with.”
This game could have done with a player of Eriksen’s calibre, as both teams struggled to assert their authority in an underwhelming first half. Mbeumo almost poked Brentford ahead from Sergi Canos’ pass just before the half-hour mark, before Ayew sliced horribly wide at the other end after Odsonne Edouard dispossessed Christian Norgaard.
Brentford also felt they should have been given a penalty when Palace defender Marc Guehi handled the ball under pressure from Norgaard, but Simon Hooper’s decision to award the visitors a free-kick for Norgaard’s shove was confirmed by the video assistant referee.
Both teams appeared increasingly content to settle for a point the longer the second half wore on. Wilfried Zaha went to ground under Rico Henry’s tug-back in stoppage time, but the challenge was not deemed worthy of a penalty by VAR.
Frank’s side were offered more warm applause at full-time after picking up their first point since 2 January – not to mention a first clean sheet since a 1-0 victory over Everton on 28 November.
“We created good opportunities,” said Frank. “We gave one chance away which was our only mistake, I’d say. If we can keep that up, we’ll be in a good place.
“There are a lot of positives to take from this game.”
Player of the match
GallagherConor Gallagher
Brentford
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Squad number20Player nameAjer
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Squad number26Player nameBaptiste
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Squad number19Player nameMbeumo
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Squad number7Player nameCanós
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Squad number6Player nameNørgaard
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Squad number27Player nameJanelt
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Squad number14Player nameGhoddos
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Squad number8Player nameJensen
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Squad number3Player nameHenry
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Squad number1Player nameRaya
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Squad number11Player nameWissa
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Squad number18Player nameJansson
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Squad number5Player namePinnock
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Squad number10Player nameDasilva
Crystal Palace
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Squad number23Player nameGallagher
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Squad number22Player nameÉdouard
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Squad number3Player nameMitchell
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Squad number13Player nameGuaita
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Squad number6Player nameGuéhi
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Squad number16Player nameAndersen
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Squad number12Player nameHughes
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Squad number7Player nameOlise
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Squad number14Player nameMateta
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Squad number15Player nameSchlupp
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Squad number2Player nameWard
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Squad number9Player nameJ Ayew
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Squad number18Player nameMcArthur
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Squad number11Player nameZaha
Line-ups
Brentford
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Raya
- 20Ajer
- 18Jansson
- 5Pinnock
- 7CanósBooked at 42minsSubstituted forBaptisteat 86′minutes
- 8Jensen
- 6Nørgaard
- 27JaneltSubstituted forDasilvaat 61′minutes
- 3Henry
- 19Mbeumo
- 11WissaSubstituted forGhoddosat 82′minutes
Substitutes
- 10Dasilva
- 14Ghoddos
- 15Onyeka
- 26Baptiste
- 29Bech Sørensen
- 30Roerslev
- 36Stevens
- 40Fernández
- 49Lössl
Crystal Palace
Formation 4-3-3
- 13Guaita
- 2Ward
- 16Andersen
- 6Guéhi
- 3Mitchell
- 23Gallagher
- 12HughesSubstituted forMcArthurat 66′minutes
- 15Schlupp
- 9J AyewSubstituted forOliseat 78′minutes
- 22ÉdouardSubstituted forMatetaat 72′minutes
- 11Zaha
Substitutes
- 1Butland
- 4Milivojevic
- 5Tomkins
- 7Olise
- 10Eze
- 14Mateta
- 17Clyne
- 18McArthur
- 20Benteke
Live Text
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Match ends, Brentford 0, Crystal Palace 0.
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Second Half ends, Brentford 0, Crystal Palace 0.
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Attempt saved. Joachim Andersen (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Conor Gallagher with a headed pass.
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James McArthur (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford).
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Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Pontus Jansson.
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Foul by Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace).
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Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Substitution, Brentford. Shandon Baptiste replaces Sergi Canós.
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Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Sergi Canós (Brentford).
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Foul by James McArthur (Crystal Palace).
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Christian Nørgaard (Brentford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Substitution, Brentford. Saman Ghoddos replaces Yoane Wissa.
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Attempt missed. Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
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Attempt blocked. Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Joachim Andersen.
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Substitution, Crystal Palace. Michael Olise replaces Jordan Ayew.
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Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Rico Henry.
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Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford).
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