BOSS Gary O’Neil was left “furious” and admitted defending set-pieces is something Cherries have “really struggled with” all season. Jordan Ayew and Eberechi Eze were the latest beneficiaries of Cherries’ sloppiness from dead-ball situations, netting from Michael Olise corners. Ayew headed in from close range, before Eze swept in unmarked from the edge of the area as Crystal Palace secured a 2-0 victory. Cherries have conceded more goals from set-pieces than any other club in the Premier League this season, with 12.
Gary O Neil said: “There’s two things to look at. The performance being flat and the nature of the performance disappoints me. I’m furious about the goals. I think if we defend the set-plays how we’ve worked on defending the set-plays, neither goal occurs. Obviously defensive set-plays have been a thing all season really we’ve struggled with them. It’s just so disappointing that they’re so avoidable today if everyone does what they’re supposed to be doing in those moments, neither go in. So very disappointing and that magnifies the performance then, because you go a goal down against Crystal Palace at home and they’re a disciplined side who are comfortable to sit back and have real threat on the top of the pitch, a counter-attacking side. So it was difficult from that moment. And then the second goal obviously compounds that for us as well. The goals are really disappointing, performance was really disappointing and we need to do better.”
