View From A Blue

Hart - Crystal Palace offered a limited attacking threat but when they did venture forward, they invariably tested Hart and he was forced into a string of excellent stops. Suffered an eye injury in the first half but didn’t let that affect him - 8 Boyata - Fans got on his back a touch due to his tendency to pass [...]

Hart - This was the dominant, solid Hart of old. He saved superbly in the first half from Coutinho and then spread himself well late on to deny Johnson. Couldn’t have done much for the visitors’ goal but there was a sense of security about what he did - 8 Zabaleta - Some of his interplay with Navas during the [...]

Hart - Recalled to the side and produced a solid, and at times crucial, performance. Made a couple of very good stops in the first half and was an assured figure when crosses came into his box. Helpless with both goals - 7 Clichy - Chosen ahead of Boyata and Milner to start on the right of defence and he [...]

Hart - Helpless for the goal as a deflection left him stranded with his balance going the other way, and he was otherwise a spectator for much of the game – 6 Zabaleta - Chasing an overhit pass from Dzeko, he pulled his hamstring and was replaced early. His absence will obviously be a huge blow – [...]

Pantilimon - Iffy handling throughout, flapping at some crosses, catching others on the second attempt and generally spreading an air on uncertainty. That might just be the catalyst for a Joe Hart recall. Still, his shot-stopping was solid in the second half – 6 Zabaleta - Robust in the challenge and a towering presence down the right. His [...]