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Oliver Glasner questions Crystal Palace fans booing after 0-0 draw with Larnaca

Oliver Glasner questions Crystal Palace fans booing after the 0-0 draw with AEK Larnaca in the Conference League on Thursday night.

Despite dominating with over 70% possession and 13 shots, Crystal Palace were held to a goalless draw by the Larnaca’s five-man defence.

There had been some mixed reaction when Jean-Philippe Mateta came on the pitch, with some booing and others applauding following his failed AC Milan move.

Boos were also heard again after the final whistle, said to be aimed at the referee Igor Pajac.

Winners of this tie will go on to face either Fiorentina (leading 2-1) or Rakow Czestochowa.

Crystal Palace head coach Oliver Glasner told TNT Sports: “I think the performance was OK – not top. We had enough chances to win the game. We were very well organised. We knew it was not easy to create chances and score goals.

“We had chances to score at least two, credit to the keeper. We were dominant but set-plays were not easy with the wind and credit to them.

“It’s the first leg and the (tie) will be (decided) in Cyprus.

“We will play the third game against them and it’s time to score. We will maybe change a few things. It’s clear if they (only) concede one in the group stage they won’t concede three or four against us tonight.

“Maybe we have to wake up to their style a little bit.”

Glasner said after the booing: “I didn’t hear anything, and maybe they booed the referee because I think in the Premier League we’re used to not so many fouls, and today almost every contact was a foul, (so maybe) the crowd was not really pleased with the referee’s performance.

“So I don’t know. Was it more him, or was it JP, or was it the result? But at the end I’ve seen us giving 100 per cent effort, creating enough, being very dominant. Just the most important part we missed, and that was scoring a goal.”

He added: “It’s never easy (in Europe), and we have to respect all the opposition. They are such an experienced team and we could see it. When you are experienced, you read, you anticipate very well and this is what they’re doing.

“We just weren’t accurate or clinical enough.”

Crystal Palace wing-back Brennan Johnson told TNT Sports: “The overall feeling is one of disappointment. We had chances.

“It’s 0-0. We can’t have our heads held too low because next week we have another big game.

“We’re in the exact same position as we were going into this game. It’s 0-0, all to play for, we know what we can do, we’re confident, we have to execute that.”

On being deployed at right wing-back ahead of Nathaniel Clyne in the absence of Daniel Munoz: “Wherever the manager needs me to play I’m happy to do so – it’s a privilege to play for this club.”

AEK Larnaca goalkeeper Zlatan Alomerovic speaking to TNT Sports: “We understand we are the underdog so, for us, it was a game to sacrifice, to be low and hope to have some counter-attacks or set-pieces.

“We understand the bigger quality is with Crystal Palace.”

Alomerovic made two fine reaction saves in the first half but added: “The first chance the ball hit me in the shoulder and the second I tried to cover as much as possible, I had luck the ball hit me – I’ll take the clean sheet back to Cyprus.”

Asked why Palace found it hard to score, he added: “The weather conditions were very strange, the wind is going left to right and circling.

“Everyone knows defending low with a five makes it very difficult to create chances. That was the plan. We are happy with the result and we’ll see what happens in Cyprus.”

Here’s what social media users are saying after Oliver Glasner questions Crystal Palace fans booing after 0-0 draw with Larnaca…

@Luke_Seychell: They were booing the ref btw

@se25jg: We were poor but your commentator has this wrong. Everyone was dismayed at the ref’s performance. It was an abysmal performance, he missed fouls and gave the benefit of the doubt to AEK’s players whenever they fell over. Also allowed their keeper to time waste.

@jayliss92: It was a pathetic performance. No idea on what to do. Constantly playing back or trying to play through the middle which was packed out by Larnaca. Incredibly frustrating to watch.

@Mark_CPFC: Igor Pajac worst ref I’ve ever seen and I see Darren England and Chris Kavanagh every week. It’s so blatant UEFA don’t want us to go through

@ThePalaceWay: I really hope those were “booms” and not boos for JP last night. You just don’t put the team down while they’re on the pitch for you. I said the same thing about the banner against Wolves. #CPFC

@awmcs: Mateta clapped off, referees booed off. #cpfc

@Radders1204:
1. Personally still want him gone.
2. He’s not ‘doing us a favour’ by winning with players that cost a lot of money, it’s his job.
3. Fans booing a VERY poor ref.
4. You know fuck all so say fuck all.
5. Who the fuck are you anyway?

@Alitheeagle1: I didn’t hear many boos for Mateta. Correct reaction with indifference and got behind team. He read the room and didn’t try and do his usual whipping up of the crowd.I think we will need him off bench in Larnaca. I’d actually start him V Leeds to get him more up to speed. #CPFC

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