EPL: Why we played 2-2 with Man City – Crystal Palace manager, Roy Hodgson

Crystal Palace manager, Roy Hodgson has explained why his team drew 2-2 against Manchester City in Saturday’s Premier League clash.

Man City were cruising and looked set to claim all three points after Jack Grealish and Rico Lewis put the home side 2-0 up at the Etihad Stadium.

But a late goal from Jean-Phillipe Mateta changed all that.

And after Phil Foden fouled Mateta in the box, Michael Olise scored from the spot-kick in injury time to earn a point for Crystal Palace, who have been out of form and ravaged by injuries.
scored.

Explaining how he masterminded such a result against Pep Guardiola’s side, Hodgson said at his post-match press conference: “I was really pleased with the team, from the first minute to the last, for the way that the players stuck to a gameplan and tried to make it work, and cause at least Man City a few more problems in terms of creating chances than they are sometimes used to.

“It was not just a question of resilience – it was a question of spirit and determination as well. If we’d have wanted excuses for a defeat today, we had loads and loads of them.

“When you have seven players injured and five of them are regulars in the attacking positions, we’ve got even more reason to say “well done today” boys.

“As it happens, we got to 2-1 which gave us some hope I suppose and we then thought, we will take a few chances now and we will have a go at it and luckily it paid off for us.

“The masterplan was decided by the fact we had to get our best and most senior players on the pitch, because we have so many missing. It meant finding a way of getting both [Joel] Ward and [Nathaniel] Clyne on the field. We did that by moving Ward in one and played with five at the back.”

EPL: Why we played 2-2 with Man City – Crystal Palace manager, Roy Hodgson