Crystal Palace 3-2 Aston Villa: Tyrick Mitchell says it was like I blanked out

Tyrick Mitchell says it was “blind” after scoring the first goal of his career to give Crystal Palace a win back to Aston Villa in the Premier League.

In a sensational incident that challenged its ‘dead rubber’ status, both sides offered to demonstrate the intent to attack with full force.

Mitchell’s intention to delay the arrival gave Palace a good reward in the second half.

The 21-year-old defender was in a good position for six minutes before he had to wrap the ball around his shoulder. After being hit by Eberechi Eze.

“I couldn’t tell you what I was thinking at the moment. But when he came in, it was just fun,” said Mitchell, whose Sunday game was the 23rd at the Palace. “It was like I took off my coat.

“And it is just like a dream come true for my whole family and also me. It has been a great season for me. Every day has been difficult, but all the work has been successful.”

Followed 2-1 back from the 34th minute, Palace knocked on the door. After the break, the visitors’ resistance was finally broken at Selhurst Park.

With 15 minutes left, Wilfried Zaha made a pre-cut driving game. And fired a foul shot that swerved into the net with Villa defender Ahmed Elmohamady, and Mitchell blocked the net shortly afterward.

Palace was already back in the game once.

Palace was already back in the game once, with Christian Benteke facing his former team following a good start from John McGinn.

Anwar El Ghazi hit the back of the net to reclaim Villa’s lead – a goal that looked like a victory until the last Palace meeting.

Villa remains 11th, four points behind tenth-placed Leeds with two games. To go, making the Premier League game that has led to the top half unusual.

It is already safe from relegation, a victory that has reduced Palace by 44 points. And a chance to score 50 points for the first time in the Premier League.

In a fine point for Villa and England’s potential, Jack Grealish appeared for the second time. In a row from the bench after the injury, he further proved his resilience to this European Championship.

Mitchell points the way forward to the Palace.

Palace manager Roy Hodgson said Mitchell found great joy in his teammates after returning to the changing room.

“It was worth it,” Hodgson said. “In the changing room, I talked about him, but he was a little busy while talking to the media.

When he came back, the players and staff just applauded automatically. And the smile on his face will always be on my mind.

“The day he will look back after 15 to 20 years and wonders if I was even perfect?”

Mitchell was not the only Palace player to impress. Before starting the match, Everything’s Gonna Be Alright, written by Bob Marley, echoed down.

And the home team did their best to support such feelings on the pitch.

Under criticism for his style of play, Hodgson has kept Palace in the Premier League. In his four seasons at the club, he was relying on experienced and reliable players.

While the 73-year-old’s contract expires this summer and those of the first regular team, the release seems unlikely. But Sunday’s performance offers some food for thought.

Benteke is one of those whose contract is about to expire. Although it could be said that he is in the position of his Palace career, netting a third game was running and a fifth in nine games.

He would have had one but to save Emi Martinez. He nodded his head from the corner to the bar in the second period.

Zaha’s talent is unquestionable and on Sunday. He showed that he still has enthusiasm and ambition, qualities shown to Andros Townsend, Cheikhou Kouyate, and others.

It may be that Eze and Mitchell should use the Palace as a critical figure.

They are both young, talented players, looking forward to where Hodgson – or, perhaps, his successor – can build aside.

“In the second half of the game. That was Crystal Palace that I saw four years ago that meaningless spirit,” Hodgson said.

“And we also accept the fact that we will never now roll over other teams. And we have to work hard to get the result, and we have done that today. Players deserve to get terrible credit.”

Defeat does not hinder Villa’s progress.

When Villa had beat Palace 3-0 on Boxing Day, they were out of the top four fighting for an unexpected European spot.

The following five months have given a big check to these high aspirations.

Still, they should not deviate from the party’s visible progress that avoided almost downgrading in the previous campaign.

It is clear the absence of the Greek star in 13 games in which they have won just three.

Dean Smith’s side is still holding the boxing out of the England striker as they showed on Sunday. Especially in the first half, which contained their two goals.

With Kortney Hause, they could have had more in the injured Tyrone Mings – twice as wide from the corners.

However, in the second half, the absence of Mings and Matty Cash was mentioned, as Villa looked tired. And it was diminished during the attack on the Palace.

They have two games left to finish in the top ten. With Tottenham no longer home to Chelsea, Villa will have to settle for the better of, the lower half.

“It hits our hopes,” Smith said. “We are only four points behind Leeds United, and we have to finish well.

“We had looked like a very excellent team in the first half today. And we were unlucky not to score more than a good goal.

“They had opposed to us a better way in the second half. And we lacked the strength we had in the first half. They were aggressive, and we never faced the ball as we did in the first half.

“It has been a great game, and we are disappointed with the goals they’ve scored.”