Oliver Glasner's Crystal Palace have experienced a difficult start to their campaign, failing to earn a point in the Premier League during August.
The Eagles did find victory in the Carabao Cup, emphatically defeating Norwich City 4-0, and Glasner will hope his side can use the momentum gained from the victory to build upon going forward.
Here is VAVEL UK's Crystal Palace August review:
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Rundown of Results
Written by William Fortune
Palace started the month by travelling to the Gtech Community Stadium to face Brentford in their first game of the season.
Glasner handed debuts to two of the summer signings on the opening day. Daichi Kamada was in the starting eleven and former Watford man Ismaila Sarr was brought off the bench.
Kamada was promising at times throughout this game with his pressing and off the ball movement. However, there were also moments in the game where he was caught overplaying his passes and making the odd few late challenges. Sarr was brought off the bench in the 84th minute and was only able to register two touches on his Palace debut.
The game also saw a familiar face being welcomed back to the team. It was good to see Cheick Doucoure come off the bench late on in the second half, making his first appearance since rupturing his Achilles in a 2-1 defeat to Luton last November.
The Eagles fell to defeat in their first game of the season 2-1 with goals coming from Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa, whilst and an own goal from Ethan Pinnock got Palace on the scoresheet.
The Eagles were quite unfortunate not to get anything from this game as they saw two goals ruled out. Odsonne Edouard had a goal chalked off correctly for offside whilst Eberechi Eze had an amazing direct free-kick controversially ruled out for an off the ball foul by Will Hughes.
With Palace looking to bounce back from their opening day defeat, the Eagles set their sights on Julen Lopetegui’s West Ham at Selhurst Park.
This game saw three changes to the starting eleven. A debut was handed to Moroccan centre half Chadi Riad, after Joachim Andersen departed to Marco Silva’s Fulham.
Jefferson Lerma came into the side for Hughes who was struggling with sickness, and new signing Kamada was relegated to the bench in favour of Edouard.
West Ham won the game 2-0 in South London, with goals from Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen the difference.
Once again Eze was unfortunate to not be on the scoresheet as he saw a strike hit the crossbar in the first half. Edouard also squandered a golden opportunity to put Palace ahead, and the Eagles were punished for not taking their chances.
Following the West Ham defeat, Crystal Palace would attempt to earn their first victory of the season against Championship side Norwich in Glasner’s first cup game managing the Eagles.
Both sides had failed to win a game in the new season, and for one side it created a golden opportunity to change.
Riad was handed his second Palace start however, his evening was cut short as he suffered a MCL injury in the 10th minute, and was subsequently replaced by Chris Richards.
Like the opening day, Palace again saw two goals ruled out. This time they were both from Eze for offside. Fortunately for Palace, they did not prove costly, as the Eagles were in red hot form, scoring four with clinical precision.
Kamada netted his first Palace goal in the second minute after rounding the Norwich keeper.
In the second half Eberechi Eze scored, and Jean-Philippe Mateta netted twice as Palace earned their first victory of the new season.
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Goal of the Month
Written by Jon Hanna
There was not an array of goals to choose from, with Palace only scoring an own goal against Brentford in the Premier League, but the Eagles did net four in a scintillating display in the Carabao Cup.
A special mention for Eze’s stunning (and controversially disallowed) free kick ‘goal’ against Brentford, which was a moment of brilliant opportunism, superbly executed.
Given that disallowed goals are not eligible, however high quality, the pick had to go to Mateta for his second goal that took Palace out of sight and onto the next round of the cup.
The French striker scored twice against the Canaries, and both goals deserve recognition, but the second gets the nod for two reasons.
Firstly, it secured passage into the next round, finally taking the home team out of sight of a possible comeback. Secondly, it was a very well-constructed goal, it did not require a moment of individual brilliance, it was simple actions timed and executed perfectly.
The move started with left back Tyrick Mitchell receiving the ball near the left touchline, his first touch and opening of the body allowed his second to play Eze in between the opposition full-back and the centre-back.
Palace’s talisman allowed the ball to run across him, before timing a first time drive cross into the area, where Mateta was on hand to smash home the first time finish through Norwich keeper George Long.
Whilst many will point to the individual brilliance showcased in Eze's solo effort or Mateta's bicycle kick, it was the Frenchman's second goal that showcased a slick well oiled team move that the Eagles will hope to replicate throughout the season. .
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Player of the Month - Adam Wharton
Written by Callum Buchanan
In a month that has been pretty disappointing in terms of results for Palace, albeit they have only played three games in August, one player who has impressed no matter what is Adam Wharton.
Coming off the back of his first major tournament with England in the summer the former Blackburn Rovers man has started the season in fine form.
He is a player that just keeps getting better and better, yet nothing he seems to do is that complicated or over-thought, he does the simple things to an elite level, which some will say is the hardest part of the game to do continuously.
What helps Wharton be able to look so in control is how often he scans so that he knows what is around him at all times, whether that be the opposition players looking to close him down or where he will play his next pass to a teammate in a good position.
He has averaged a pass success rate of 80% along with making two key passes, both of which came against West Ham.
In the defeat to Brentford the 20 year-old managed three shots, one of which was unlucky not to go in after a couple of deflections, and you would argue that if decisions had gone Palace’s way the England international may have been on the winning side in at least one of the two Premier League matches.
Wharton came off the bench versus Norwich, and helped the Eagles see the game out to earn their first victory of the season.
Glasner has stated the midfielder has been struggling with a groin injury since returning to Palace, and has had to miss out on training sessions.
The Austrian will be hoping Wharton comes back healthy and ready after the international break when his side host Leicester City, and continues his marvellous form.
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What is next for the Eagles?
Palace began September with a 1-1 draw against Chelsea to earn their first point of the Premier League season. A wonderful Eze strike helped Glasner's side fight back form one goal down, and the Eagles will hope to build upon the result when they return from the international break.
The Eagles will welcome several deadline day signings into the squad after the international break, which will provide some much needed depth.
Striker Eddie Nketiah signed from Arsenal, whilst defenders Maxence Lacroix and Trevor Chalobah also joined Glasner's ranks from VfL Wolfsburg and Chelsea respectively.
Palace also saw goalkeeper Matt Turner join on a season long-loan from Nottingham Forest, taking the Eagles summer arrivals up to seven.
September Fixtures
Saturday 14th September - Leicester City (H)
Tuesday 17th September - QPR (A)
Saturday 21st September - Manchester United (H)
Saturday 28th September - Everton (A)
