It has been a while since Selhurst Park was united at full-time, but victory over Zrinjski Mostar has given Crystal Palace reason to believe again and offered a lifeline for manager Oliver Glasner.
After the turbulence of the past few months, there is finally a chance for everyone at Palace to take a breath. Glasner even conceded afterwards that he had maybe said some things that “were not really helpful” in a rare show of contrition when speaking with TNT Sports.
It has been a challenging period for everyone, but after back-to-back wins and progress into the last 16 of the UEFA Conference League, perhaps the noise may start to dissipate. “We all hope so,” Glasner said in his post-match press conference when asked if this might be the start of a calmer spell.
There was a rare sense of unity at Selhurst Park (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
However, this is only an uneasy truce between the subset of Palace supporters who have become disaffected, and Glasner. The section of fans who have been riled by performances and results, but especially the comments he has made, will not be easily satisfied.
Even Zrinjski manager Igor Stimac had sought to use the Palace fans’ discontent against them. “We are going to do everything to make your team nervous and get the fans booing them,” he had said in his press conference before the game. That’s one of our plans.” While he also backed up his opposing manager’s comments about perspective, the discord has been noticed. It is evidently unhelpful.
Glasner’s future would have been in significant doubt if his side had suffered defeat at Selhurst Park, but a brilliant Adam Wharton free kick was headed in by Maxence Lacroix and Evan Guessand, who was impressive in offering something different, kept calm to guarantee victory late on.
It was not a perfect performance and the discontent was occasionally demonstrated with moans and groans despite how much control Palace exerted. This side has now lost once in six games in all competitions, keeping three clean sheets along the way, but there is still a nervousness to their displays. They did give up good chances for Zrinjski to score while continuing to show their own wastefulness in front of goal.
Nikola Janjic heads a late chance for Zrinjski Mostar wide (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
The Holmesdale Fanatics, whose banner aimed at both Glasner and the club’s hierarchy in the victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday had contributed to the unease inside Selhurst Park, will continue to make their concerns heard. But on Thursday they vocalised their support for the team from the warm up, seeking to set aside — for now — their discontent.
They had failed to persuade the club to pause the pre-match music to allow them to voice their fervent support, and held up another banner; this one took aim at the board over ticket prices which left a chunk of seats empty. Their attention here was less on the manager, but they still sang “south London’s red and blue army” instead of “Oliver Glasner’s red and blue army,” as they have since he said in January he was to leave at the end of the season.
There will be no forgetting recent flashpoints, but things have moved towards some sense of normality again.
Palace are not suddenly delighted with their manager, and he still feels that injustice, but he has helped to calm things. An unremarkable press conference to preview this match was welcome after weeks of incendiary remarks — however unintentional or misunderstood.
His side did find it difficult at times to penetrate a low block as they had on Sunday, but grinding out victories is sufficient for now. Performances may improve as injured players return and new signings find their feet. Jean-Philippe Mateta and Jefferson Lerma are expected back after the game with Tottenham Hotspur next week, and will provide more options.
Evann Guessand made a difference for Crystal Palace (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
It was the introduction of one of the new signings in Guessand which changed the game against Wolves. He is a different profile of player, someone eager to run at a defence and carry the ball, and was most impressive against Zrinjski too.
For now, the season continues fuelled by the possibility of a highest ever Premier League points total and another trophy.
They may have an opportunity to exact revenge over AEK Larnaca in the next round should that fixture be confirmed in Friday’s draw, but would need to learn from their 1-0 home defeat to the Cypriots from the group stage and improve against a low block.
This is a stay of execution for Glasner.
If results turn for the worse and he revisits his public outbursts, then those supporters who do not believe in his leadership anymore will become ever more vocal. The board would have a decision to make.
There is certainly room to be optimistic, though. A week ago in Mostar some fans were chanting for Glasner’s head. At full-time against Wolves he was subjected to booing from a small number. Everything still seemed gloomy. But some of those clouds may just have parted. There is sunshine after a storm, as he says.
While everything remains delicate, maybe there is a chance that, however broken the relationship may be, Palace and Glasner can find a way to make it work until the end of the season.