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Crystal Palace analysis: Wilfried Zaha proves his worth, but fans may have seen the last of Mamadou Sakho

REUTERS
REUTERS

Crystal Palace missed out on the chance to move closer to Premier League safety after losing 1-0 at home to Tottenham on Wednesday night.

Christian Eriksen kept Spurs' title hopes alive with a crucial strike to sink the Eagles in the second half at Selhurst Park.

The Dane rescued the visitors with a long-range drive 12 minutes from time to ensure they remain four points behind leaders Chelsea.

The result leaves Palace still needing a result to be sure of safety from relegation, despite sitting 12th in the table.

Giuseppe Muro was at Selhurst Park to assess the key talking points...

Spurs escape Eagles' clutches

(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Crystal Palace could not add Tottenham to their list of recent big scalps.

Palace have beaten Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool this month and pushed Spurs all the way at Selhurst Park.

But defeat means the Eagles stay seven points above the relegation zone and must now focus on a home game against Burnley on Saturday knowing a win will take them past the 40-point mark.

Palace may have seen the last of Sakho

(REUTERS)
(REUTERS)

Mamadou Sakho might have played his last game for Palace.

Sakho has been a colossus at the back since joining on loan from Liverpool but he was stretched off with a serious-looking knee injury at the start of the second half.

The 27-year-old twisted his left knee when he caught his studs in the turf and it looked a bad one.

Sakho left the field with his knee in a brace and it seems unlikely he will play again this season.

Zaha proves his worth

(REUTERS)
(REUTERS)

It is easy to see why Sam Allardyce thinks Wilfried Zaha is worth more than £40million.

Palace have put a huge price tag on Zaha and the winger again showed why they value him so highly despite being on the losing side.

Zaha, who is attracting interest from some big Premier League clubs, and Palace might face a fight to keep him this summer.

Defence now a worry for Allardyce

(REUTERS)
(REUTERS)

Palace are facing a centre-back shortage for the remainder of the season. Sakho suffered a knee injury and Scott Dann and James Tomkins have already been ruled out for the rest of the season.

Martin Kelly has filled in well in recent matches and Damien Delaney is the only other option in that position.

Palace should be safe but Allardyce will be concerned with his lack of options in that position.

Eagles tire after hectic schedule

(REUTERS)
(REUTERS)

Allardyce had a point when he said the Premier League did Palace no favours with their scheduling of this match.

Having one day less to prepare for the game than Spurs hit Palace hard. Allardyce complained his players did not have enough recovery time after their win at Liverpool on Sunday and his players tired towards the end of the match.

They were noticeably running out of steam when Christian Eriksen scored his 78th-minute winner.