Team Focus: Palace Can't Afford to Lose Defensive Grit Despite Solid Start

For a team that suffered such a shock on the eve of the season, Crystal Palace haven’t shown too many signs of trauma.

The stunning departure of Tony Pulis didn’t lead to the total collapse it might have. Neil Warnock’s side have stayed admirably solid. That can be seen in their performances and, to a certain extent, their points.

Palace have won two and drawn two of their eight games so far, bringing a respectable eight points. That might have been even better had they not had Damien Delaney sent off against Chelsea, as - not for the first time this year - they looked to unsettle the league leaders.

“We were super against a top side,” Warnock beamed after the narrow 2-1 defeat. “We worked on our tactics early doors, stopped [Cesc] Fabregas playing, got about ourselves.”

Unlike last season, though, they didn’t get about Chelsea enough to actually beat them. And, while a lot of that might have been down to the impressive improvement in Jose Mourinho’s side this season, the wonder is also whether it is also consequence of any decline in Warnock’s?

This is obviously not to say that there is any shame in losing to a side as excellent as Chelsea, but Palace’s continuing solidity still doesn’t put up a completely watertight argument about their ability to stay up this season.

Eight points still has them in 16th, and they are already conceding at a greater rate than last season: 1.75 rather than 1.04. It is possible that, rather than an immediate collapse, we see the seams tied by Pulis unravel more slowly. The feeling remains, after all, that it was the former manager's intensity that so tightly integrated that group. The squad still doesn't look totally up to Premier League standards, but Pulis brought them up to that level.

Can Warnock keep them there? The new man may be somewhat similar in style to Pulis, but he has never offered anywhere near the same certainty. As such, it’s still very difficult to judge with Palace right now.

So, what do the stats tell us? What has Warnock been changing?

Well, in terms of the most basic approach, not all that much yet.

Palace accept they will have less possession than the opposition and thereby make roughly the same amount of tackles, at 21.6 per game. They also make more fouls, at 14.8 per match, rather than 11. That abrasiveness has remained, and Mourinho constantly alluded to it following Saturday’s game.

“In their [physical] game they are better than us,” the Portuguese explained. The way they play, they are better than us. If we come here and don't impose our game, we have no chance.”

One clear change with Palace, though, is they seem intent on actually creating - rather than forcing - more chances for themselves. There is more nuance in their play, even if it is so far only slight.

Palace do have slightly more possession, at least, with that rate rising from 35.3% to 39% this season. From there, they attempt more dribbles per game - 9.4 rather than 8 - and have had slightly more key passes, up to 8.9 from 8.4.

Similarly, while Pulis’ Palace were certainly not the totally aerial team that his Stoke City were, Warnock does seem to be playing it on the deck more.

His side now have fewer accurate crosses, down from 4.2 to 2.75, and win fewer aerial duels - 21.3 instead of 23.2.

That could be seen in the way they went at Chelsea. Yannick Bolasie was used to try and repeatedly roll Branislav Ivanovic - which he was fairly successful at - and Frazier Campbell kept turning Gary Cahill.

It was hugely impressive - but, ultimately, a little lacking. The hope for Palace is this doesn't prove true of the season as a whole. While any evolution in play is to be commended, striking the right balance in that regard is crucial. It was their cast-iron defensive cohesion that kept them up more than anything else, and there have already been signs of it loosening.

Warnock must be wary of losing too much of their grit, especially since this is ultimately a squad rather low on overall quality.

Pulis cut his cloth well. Warnock must not cut away Palace’s main strengths - or at least not until they strengthen.

Will Crystal Palace avoid the drop under Warnock this season? Let us know in the comments below