Oliver Glasner impressed by Crystal Palace’s attitude in win at Shelbourne

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner praised the efficiency of his side in breaking down Shelbourne with a ruthless first-half display in their 3-0 win at the Tallaght Stadium which keeps them on course for a top-eight finish in the Conference League standings.

Christantus Uche marked his first Palace start with an early opening goal in Dublin before Eddie Nketiah and Yeremy Pino put the Premier League side in total control ahead of the break.

Palace – looking to avoid a play-off round in February – could have added to their tally in the second half, but substitute Romain Esse saw his shot come back off both posts.

The Eagles have nine points and sit ninth, just one point behind a group of five teams above them, ahead of a final league-phase fixture at home to KuPS of Finland.

“We had a great attitude from the beginning,” Glasner said.

“We have faced this a few times together, and we were always struggling in creating many chances. Today, I think it was the best performance against the team that defended deeper.”

Glasner added: “We were efficient. Even with these three chances (that we scored in the first half), we missed two or three more and it was really nice to watch.

“At half-time we spoke about it, to keep the pace high, the intensity high, and so that is how we how we wanted to play.”

With leading forward Jean-Philippe Mateta rested, Uche made the most of his opportunity, scoring a first goal since his season-long loan move from Getafe.

Uche has not been selected for the final Nigeria squad at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, so the 22-year-old could be given more chances to stake his claim for a regular place in Glasner’s side over the hectic Christmas schedule.

“It is a nice German quote – one swallow doesn’t make a summer. It is up to him,” Glasner said.

“We need every single one, maybe for three minutes, maybe for 90 like it was today, and then you have to be ready to help the team win the games. That is what we are here for.

“And it is always to go out to every single one, and not playing for himself, always playing for a team and doing your job.”

Shelbourne manager Joey O’Brien accepted his side – whose domestic season in the Republic of Ireland finished in November – had paid for a poor opening 45 minutes.

“There is levels to football and they showed what level they are operating on,” said O’Brien, whose side have managed just one point and lost four of their five Conference League fixtures.

“They are ahead of us. I said to our boys at half-time: ‘still be proud of who you are and and make sure you go out the second half to a maximum and stay at it’.

“They have done that and I am really proud of their effort, they kept the scoreline respectable.”