Strand Larsen: We deserved it for staying positive
Falling behind after three minutes certainly wasn’t in the ideal script for Crystal Palace facing Nottingham Forest on Sunday – but Jørgen Strand Larsen believes his teammates’ response to that setback meant they deserved victory.
The Eagles were dominated for large stretches of the opening period – with Dan Ndoye putting the visitors ahead at Selhurst Park in the early exchanges – yet clung on, thanks largely to goalkeeper Walter Benítez.
They then, remarkably, netted twice before half-time, Strand Larsen playing his part in the first – a fine team goal – before sealing three points shortly after half-time when the Norwegian’s effort was saved and close friend Yéremy Pino poked home the rebound.
“It was really intense,” Strand Larsen told Palace TV. “A lot of heart, a lot of enjoyment also, to be fair.
“I feel like these are the games we want to play at home. [There was] a lot of passion and today I felt really, really good. I think we all did.
“We got off to a sloppy start and it was really good to bounce back. Walter is a top goalkeeper. We've got so many top-class players around here now. Everyone did really well today, but obviously moments like that [his save from Liam Delap] are really important.
“We scored just before half-time, which is also great. I feel like it was a ding-dong game, but at the end, I feel like the mentality we had was why we won it, because we were always staying positive.
“Even though we went 1-0 down in the beginning, we were positive and we knew that at half-time the game was not over, so we went out there and did the same thing and scored again. A massive, massive three points.”
It was an outstanding performance in many ways
—Jørgen Strand Larsen
Palace’s win was their first at home in the Premier League this season, and Strand Larsen feels like Pierre Sage’s side evidenced signs they are clicking offensively.
“Most of us haven't really been here in the international break, but the guys that stayed here definitely feel like they've gotten better relationships within the staff and the players,” he observed.
“Obviously, the Manager is good and the staff as well, but the mentality has to be at the bottom and today it was top. It was an outstanding performance in many ways.
“Obviously, we can still do better, because we don't want to give them so much, but it's also a quality team we're playing against and we know Oliver [Glasner, Forest manager] as well. He's a great manager, so he knows how to hurt us, so that's the problem!
“But at the same time, I feel like we did well today and I feel like it was good to get a win here, because we haven't done that too much last season and also didn't do that against Ipswich and [Manchester] City, so it's a great feeling.”
Palace now face two European away days – at Olympique Lyonnais and Beşiktaş – either side of travelling to arch rivals Brighton & Hove Albion.
Strand Larsen concluded: “I think it's three on the road now, so three really cool matches.
“I wish we could celebrate a bit more today, but it's all about recovering now and getting back on the feet again.
“It’s a tough October coming up, but football games are what we live for, so we're going to win them all.”