Crystal Palace: ‘Hungry’ and ‘ambitious’ Eagles set new club record

Just a year ago Crystal Palace were 18th in the Premier League and worryingly without a win.

Now last term’s FA Cup winners are on the longest stretch of games without defeat in their 120-year history after claiming a memorable first away victory in Europe against Dynamo Kyiv in the Conference League.

With three wins and three draws, Oliver Glasner’s high-flying Eagles sit third in the top flight with the only unbeaten record, having ended leaders Liverpool’s own successful start.

Palace last lost a match on 16 April when they were thrashed 5-0 at Newcastle.

But they have not looked back since then, with perhaps a measure of how far they have come highlighted on Thursday, when Dynamo Kyiv – a club steeped in European history – deploying a system and tactics specifically geared to try to nullify Palace’s threat.

Not that it worked.

Glasner’s side beat Liverpool on Saturday to equal the 18-match unbeaten streak last achieved between February and August 1969, with Bert Head as their manager.

And they surpassed that mark with a polished performance in their maiden appearance at the group stage of a major European competition, despite having Borna Sosa sent off after earlier goals from Daniel Munoz and Eddie Nketiah.

“They are so hungry to succeed, and so ambitious, and of course we want to keep them pushing, and it is really easy to keep the focus high,” said Glasner.

“We have huge respect for Dynamo Kyiv, so playing away, starting with a win with three points in the Conference League is very positive.

“Every single competition is the same, it is as important as the other one, and this is how we want to continue, game by game, and doing the best every single game.”