Inspirational: Crystal Palace talisman Wilfried Zaha
(Picture: Action Images via Reuters)Wilfried Zaha revealed he urged his Crystal Palace team-mates to stop being “bullied” on the road before the Eagles finally ended their long wait for an away win at West Ham yesterday.
Zaha’s goal helped Palace come from behind to take all three points at the London Stadium, the forward cancelling out Said Benrahma’s opener before Michael Olise’s dramatic late winner stole victory.
Patrick Vieira’s side had not tasted victory away from Selhurst Park all season, their last success coming at Southampton back in April.
“We haven’t had the best of luck with our away games,” Zaha said. “So today, me personally, I let the lads know we have to play with character. We’ve got amazing talent but when we go away from home we’ve got to be as strong as we are at home and just not be bullied. Today’s result was just amazing.
“I feel like if we just play our game and stamp our authority on games we’re good enough. Obviously in some games you have to suffer but I feel like today we dominated. We gave a goal away out of the blue but we dominated and we got the points we deserved.”
Olise’s deflected effort was the winger’s first goal of the season, Vieira trusting the 20-year-old with a full 90 minutes for only the second time this term and rewarded as he came up trumps deep into stoppage time.
“There wasn’t any reason for me to take him off,” Vieira said. “From the start of the game he was really lively, he was getting the ball at his feet, creating situations for us and he had a really good game. Michael’s still growing as a player.
“When we played away at Everton he found it really difficult to get involved in the game but today was much better. We have to expose him for him to grow as a player. There’s no doubt about his ability to score goals or to play well.”
