Crystal Palace 2015/16 Premier League season review
Sunday 15 May 2016 17:33, UK
Stats, quotes and expert opinion on Crystal Palace's 2015/16 Premier League season.
Finishing position: 15th (Subject to change depending on Bournemouth's result against Manchester United)
Total points: 42 (-6)
FA Cup: Final
Capital One Cup: Fourth round
Top scorers: Yannick Bolasie, Yohan Cabaye, Connor Wickham and Scott Dann (five)
WhoScored Top Rating: Yohan Cabaye (7.23)
Season review
After a strong finish to last season under Alan Pardew, Crystal Palace started the new campaign on a wave of optimism. Yohan Cabaye was a mouth-watering addition from Paris St Germain, and it felt like there was plenty to get excited about in SE25.
The opening weeks of the season only added to the enjoyment, as Palace won three of their first four games, including a thrilling 2-1 victory over defending champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Narrow defeats to Manchester City and Tottenham followed, but there were more highlights to come.
The Eagles claimed a 2-1 win over Liverpool at Anfield and thumped Pardew's old side Newcastle 5-1 at Selhurst Park at the end of November, and at Christmas only an inferior goal difference to Manchester United and Spurs kept them out of the Champions League places.
Palace supporters were dreaming of Europe, but their form nosedived in the second half of the campaign, with a dismal winless run of 14 games pushing them into a relegation battle. They finally got back to winning ways against Norwich in April, however, and there was also a 1-1 draw against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
The dip in form between December and April was a serious cause for alarm and a 4-1 defeat by Southampton was a dismal way to finish their Premier League campaign, but their upcoming FA Cup final against Manchester United gives them the opportunity to end the year on an unforgettable high.
Quotes of the season
"We're on the fringes of contesting for a Champions League place. Our dream isn't 10th again as we're good enough to finish top six." - Alan Pardew on Crystal Palace's European ambitions in December.
"Of course we are [in a relegation battle]. We keep losing. There is no talk of Europe at this club. We are focused now on what Crystal Palace need to deliver in this next 10 games." - Alan Pardew admits Crystal Palace have been sucked into a relegation battle in February.
"He delivers in training, he delivers on match day, he delivers when you're up against it." - Alan Pardew on Yohan Cabaye.
Stats of the season
Crystal Palace won nine Premier League games out of 17 before Christmas compared to just two out of 21 after Christmas.
Only Riyad Mahrez (131) completed more dribbles than Wilfried Zaha (127) in 2015/16.
Palace scored the highest percentage of goals from set pieces in the Premier League this season (46 per cent).
Paul Merson's view
Palace made a superb start to the season and it looked European qualification through the league was a real possibility.
"Palace made a superb start to the season and it looked European qualification through the league was a real possibility. They could not keep that up though and had a few injuries at the wrong time.
"For a while Alan Pardew and his side could not buy a win in the league but they kept on progressing in the FA Cup. Their focus then switched to the cup and who can blame them? They've got all the way to the final and it will be massive for the club if they can win it."
