- Oliver Glasner’s side caused an upset with victory at high-flying Aston Villa
- But Crystal Palace’s joy was tainted by an injury to star player Eberechi Eze
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As the inquest began at Villa Park on Wednesday night, there was anguish, anger and indignation.
While Unai Emery was questioning how his high-flying side could lose at home to lowly Crystal Palace, Aston Villa fans were querying a selection gamble which backfired horribly.
The Villa Park trophy cabinet has lain bare since 1996, when Brian Little’s side beat Leeds to lift the League Cup, and this was a huge opportunity to progress.
So what did Emery do? He made 10 changes and was duly punished by Palace substitute Daichi Kamada’s exquisite second-half strike which booked them a quarter-final London derby at Arsenal.
The Japan midfielder did not start the match but how he finished, replacing injured goalscorer Eberechi Eze early on before hitting the winner.
As Villa fans vented their fury on social media, Emery was forced to defend his policy, insisting: ‘Of course we want to win a trophy, so we’re disappointed.
‘We started with 11 players in the first-team squad so I don’t know if I can have some regrets.
‘The players tried their best and I have to accept the result.’
Credit to Oliver Glasner, of course, as the pressure on the Eagles manager further eased following Sunday’s excellent win over Tottenham.
Palace led in the eighth minute when Daniel Munoz crossed from the right and Eze headed home powerfully.
Eze was then forced off with a hamstring problem in the 18th minute and Villa fashioned an equaliser midway through the first half. The ball fell invitingly to Jhon Duran inside the 18-yard box and he fired home a sweetly struck left-foot shot.
Palace were then dealt another blow before the break when midfielder Adam Wharton was substituted with a groin strain.
In the 64th minute, though, Kamada seized on an errant pass from Diego Carlos.
The summer signing from Lazio collected possession around 25 yards from goal and created space to drill a low, right-foot shot into the net.
Glasner beamed: ‘I’m very proud of the performance, especially in the circumstances.
‘We defended with a lot of desire and passion.’
