Crystal Palace 2 Wolves 1: Wilfried Zaha nets winner as managerless visitors continue to struggle amid relegation fight

EBERECHI EZE backed up Patrick Vieira’s calls to send him to Qatar as he inspired Crystal Palace’s comeback victory over Wolves.

Eze levelled for the Eagles before playing a key role in Wilfried Zaha’s winner.

The Palace ace is on Gareth Southgate’s radar after injury robbed him of a place at Euro 2020 last year.

And after Vieira had touted the 24-year-old for a spot on the plane this winter, he showed exactly what he could offer the Three Lions.

Wolves fans have been starved of goals this season so there was almost a stunned silence from the away end what Adama Traore put them ahead with his back post header.

Palace’s two previous wins this season have both come after conceding the opener – so there was little worry around Selhurst Park.

Eze nodded home just minutes after the restart before Zaha sealed all three points.

Wolves visited off the back of just a second win this season, against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, but still without a manager following the sacking of Bruno Lage.

The Midlands club have spoken to ex-Lyon boss Peter Bosz over the vacant role, with fans hardly setting off fireworks at the news that their former manager, Nuno Espirito Santo, was under consideration.

Vieira had called on his side to be more “brave and aggressive” ahead of kick-off and midfielder Cheick Doucoure went about trying to set the tone from the off – crashing a long-range effort against the post inside five minutes.

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Veteran Diego Costa found an inch of space at the other end, turning Joel Ward just yards from goal but unable to force the ball past Vicente Guaita, who turned it behind for a corner with his knee.

Olise was providing the creative spark Vieira had asked for, placing a cross perfectly onto the head of Marc Guehi, who glanced it just wide of the far post.

The Eagles were taking charge with Olise cutting in but sending his shot wayward before Joachim Andersen’s header from a corner found the roof of the net.

The chances were coming but not being taken.

Vieira then will have been furious to see those openings wasted before Wolves raced up the other end and hit back.

Steve Davis had given youngster Hugo Bueno his first start and the youngster took full advantage.

Bueno drove down the left into a wide open space and had time to lift a fine cross to the far post where Traore raced in to nod in his first league goal – either for Wolves or Barcelona – since late January.

“We’ve scored a goal” came the delighted chant from the away end, this Wolves’ first away goal in five games.

The visitors almost had another one to celebrate just before the break too.

Buoyed by his goal, Traore charged through the middle of the Palace midfield, with Doucoure forced to hack him down on the edge of the Palace box and earn a booking.

Ruben Neves, having sent an earlier long range shot wide, bent this one against the post with Guaita rooted to the spot.

It only took Palace two minutes from the restart to make the most of their stroke of luck.

Having spent the first half passing up chances, the Eagles had clearly sharpened their beaks during the break as the front three combined.

Zaha drove forward and shifted the ball to the feet of Olise, who cut inside the youngster Bueno from the right and floated an inch perfect cross over the head of Semedo.

Eze was waiting, completely alone, to nod back across Jose Sa for his second goal in three games.

Crystal Palace moved into full show-off mode.

Zaha was wriggling his way through a number of Wolves shirts all trying to take a lump out of him to really get Selhurst going before Edouard sent a bicycle kick agonisingly wide from Olise’s cross.

Palace’s talisman was up for it now. Zaha fired a low shot at Sa, but wouldn’t have to wait long for another crack.

His finish completed a fine move, starting with a perfectly weighted ball from deep by Eze for Edouard.

The French striker waited to play in Zaha, who collected the ball one-on-one and blasted past the Wolves keeper to complete the comeback.

This was Crystal Palace back at their free-flowing best.

When they’re playing like this, Zaha is no longer having to do it all alone and the Eagles star would love to see Eze get the chance for England he was never properly afforded.

They still needed the man at the back late on, however, with Guaita diving to palm away Neves’ deflected strike in injury time.