CRYSTAL PALACE jumped out of the relegation zone after beating Huddersfield 2-0 as Wilfried Zaha started his first match in over a month.
The 25-year-old showed exactly why Roy Hodgson claims he is as vital to the Eagles as Lionel Messi is to Barcelona.
Crystal Palace defender James Tomkins netted the opener at the John Smith’s Stadium
But the Ivorian winger limped off in the 88th minute as he had to be replaced by Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Zaha won the corner which led to the first goal, before sending Andros Townsend clear to win the penalty for the second – and was generally too hot for Huddersfield to handle all day.
If only they can keep him fit for the rest of the campaign, there is every chance Palace will be in the top-flight next season.
Nine times they have been without him in the Premier League, and on each occasion they have ended the day pointless.
Yesterday, with him back in from the start after a knee injury, they were a different side to the one which had lost its last four.
He had already caused panic in the Terriers’ backline by the time he won the corner which set Palace on their way on 24 minutes.
When Steve Mounie swung a hapless leg at Luka Milivojevic’s delivery, James Tomkins stuck out a foot at the far post.
Jonas Lossl pulled off a stunning save, yet was left without a prayer as the Palace centre back reacted sharpest to his own initial chance, and stabbed in the rebound.
Christian Benteke should have had a penalty when Mathias Zanka took a tug at his shirt and he went tumbling in the box, only for Mike Dean to wave away the claims.
Yet Andros Townsend won a blatant one when Zanka dived in after Zaha had sent him scurrying clear, and Milivojevic buried the spot kick – and with it Huddersfield’s hopes.
Palace fans will just be praying that Zaha’s departure for the final couple of minutes, limping down the tunnel, was more down to tiredness than anything serious. They could be in big trouble without him.
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