2 Crystal Palace
0 West Bromwich Albion
by Tashan
Deniran-Alleyne
at Selhurst Park

CRYSTAL PALACE manager Alan Pardew heaped praise on Yohan Cabaye after the French midfielder inspired the Eagles to a 2-0 victory over West Brom on Saturday afternoon.

The playmaker returned to the Premier League in the summer and had a hand in both goals in south London as the home side ran out comfortable winners.

Palace had to wait until deep into the second half to break the deadlock as Yannick Bolasie headed home at the back post from a pin-point Cabaye cross to net his first goal of the season.

The France international (right) then scored for the second successive fixture as he converted from the penalty spot in the 89th minute after the impressive Wilfried Zaha was brought down in the area by Chris Brunt.

Speaking to the media after the game, Pardew hailed the massive influence the 29-year-old has had at the club since his arrival from French giants Paris Saint-Germain: “He’s shown that he’s not just a passer of the ball and he perhaps needed to show that to a few of our warriors here that he’s up for the battle as well.

“He is one of the top players I’ve had in terms of trust in how the game is evolving, he can smell what to do, and I think he’s playing as well as he ever did for me at Newcastle.”

Meanwhile Albion will head into the international break one place above the relegation zone and boss Tony Pulis was disappointed with the performance his side produced against his old club: “If you watched us against (Aston) Villa with the same team and the energy and enthusiasm both going forward and defensively, it was unbelievable.

“I’ve just said to them afterwards that the level of performance today compared to that is too big a drop for me.”