American defender Chris Richards was hoping to make a positive first impression to new manager Oliver Glasner on Saturday and the centerback did just that in Crystal Palace’s home victory over Burnley.
Richards’ first goal for the Eagles proved to be the winner in Crystal Palace’s 3-0 Premier League triumph over the visiting Clarets. The 23-year-old also logged 90 minutes in defense as the Eagles moved eight points away from the relegation zone.
Following a goal-less first half, Richards delivered the breakthrough moment for Crystal Palace in the 68th minute. Jordan Ayew’s dangerous cross from the right wing was headed home by a diving Richards for a 1-0 Eagles lead.
It marked Richards’ first senior goal since the 2021-22 Bundesliga campaign with Hoffenheim.
Ayew would double Crystal Palace’s lead only three minutes later before Jean-Philippe Mateta added a third and final goal in the 79th minute.
The result was Crystal Palace’s second league win of 2024, while the Eagles also registered their first clean sheet since their reverse trip to Turf Moor in November 2023.
Richards also won five duels, made four recoveries, and drew one foul in his outing.
“It’s good [to have] a 3-0 win at home, especially after the tough run of games we’ve had recently. The vibe’s really high right now,” Richards said postmatch in a club interview. “The gaffer said to stay patient at half-time. I think we really trusted in his game plan, we trusted in our quality and we knew that eventually the goal would come.
“I’ve wanted it [my first goal] all year,” he added. “Of course, you always like to score goals, but I think it was a very crucial goal in a very crucial game, so I’m very happy about it.”
Crystal Palace will now seek its first set of back-to-back league victories when it visits London rivals Tottenham on March 2.
It was a nice goal. Even nicer is the fact that he’s getting regular PT in the Prem now…as an actual defender. We needed that.
In their last game, Richards had two headers that were well placed. The first one was going right inside the near post until a defender got a leg in the way. The second one was going just inside the near post on the other side when it was saved off the line by a defender guarding that post on a corner. Both headers were very accurate, so it seemed like only a matter of time until he scored. In his last two games the commentators complimented his defense, one saying he was very tidy in one game and the other remarking how strong he was in the back. Looks like he has a starting job locked down.
A couple factors, one Marc Guehi is hurt. When he returns he will get his starting spot back. Two, Glasner the new manager uses a 3 man backline a lot so Chris will likely be one of the three CBs. However, currently they’ve been using their captain Joel Ward as the third CB. Ward’s a RB whose started every match he’s been healthy for, so Chris will have to continue to fight for his time.