Glasner on positives to take from West Ham draw, plus Wharton update
Oliver Glasner admitted he was disappointed with the result of Monday’s 0-0 draw against West Ham United at Selhurst Park – but not, given the circumstances, Palace’s performance.
A physical contest full of set-pieces and half-chances yielded no goals, with the Eagles – despite only playing in Florence four days ago – finishing the stronger of the two sides, but being forced to settle for a point by a resilient visiting side.
Glasner told Palace TV: “I think everybody who knows me right now knows that I'm not 100 per cent pleased when we have a draw – especially today, I felt we could have won the game, if we'd performed a bit better.
“But on the other side, when I see all the circumstances, then the performance was absolutely okay. What I really liked most today is that right at the end, where everybody could expect that we are getting fatigued and West Ham go for the win, we were closer to winning it.
“We made a lot of pressure, we were just not clinical enough and we weren't good enough in our set-plays today, and we had plenty of them.
“And on the other side, we have another clean sheet. So, overall, it's a good point and the performance was okay, and that's why it's more positive than the opposite.”
Glasner added of the display: “I think, especially in the first-half, we lost too many balls too easily in dangerous areas.
“In the second-half, we got very often into the final third and then we had many crosses from just outside the box, but we didn't have the best movement inside the box, we didn't have enough players in the box. Sometimes the crosses were not accurate enough, so we were always missing a little bit.
“And also credit to West Ham, they defended the box very well. And then you need maybe a set play, where we had a lot, and also there we were not good enough. That's why it's a point at the end, but I just remind myself, the first thing I learned from the Chairman [Steve Parish] was to respect the point in the Premier League, and that's what we're doing.”
Credit to our players today, that they could match the West Ham motivation
—Oliver Glasner
Adam Wharton, who left the field in the first-half of the second leg against Fiorentina on Thursday, did not feature in the matchday squad.
Glasner said of the England international: “He should be back [for Liverpool away on Saturday] – it was mostly a precaution more or less, [he showed] a little bit of clinical symptoms.
“I expect him back on Thursday in training when we start to prepare for the Liverpool game and he should be available.”
Next up the Eagles face the Reds at Anfield for a second time this season, with the rare luxury this season of a full week to prepare for the trip to Merseyside.
Glaser noted: “Like always, [I expect] a great atmosphere at Anfield, great stadium, and they are fighting for the Champions League. We're also in a good position in the league, and we want to show a great performance there.
“We think we know how they play, but also they had a great win in the Merseyside derby, so that's why they will be highly motivated.
“And again, also credit to our players today, that they could match the West Ham motivation [with the Hammers fighting relegation] today. It was a completely different approach to the game, and so I know, I trust these boys, that we will be motivated and giving our best.
“And I trust our fans, who had a great atmosphere here today at Selhurst, and I trust them that they will go to Anfield and support the team, and then hopefully we can come back with three points.”