Crystal Palace recorded a 2-0 victory over Burnley yesterday, and Tyrick Mitchell sealed the victory with a very rare late goal.
Jeffrey Schlupp had given the visitors a first-half lead after excellent work from Jordan Ayew, and Palace held on to keep a clean sheet, before securing all three points at the end through Mitchell’s goal.
It was Mitchell’s first goal since May 2021, and his first for the club in front of Crystal Palace fans, as his strike sent the travelling support into raptures.
However, the goal itself may have been scored by someone else, if Mitchell did not speak to teammate Naouriou Ahamada in the build-up to the goal.
Mitchell gave instructions to Ahamada
Speaking to Crystal Palace club media, Mitchell explained that his goal, which saw him run onto the end of a layoff from Eberechi Eze, came as a result of him shouting to Ahamada, who was also closing in on the ball, to leave it for him.
“It’s a great feeling to score so I’m happy,” Mitchell stated.
“It’s always good to score. I don’t do it a lot, but it was a great goal!
“When I saw Ebs get it, I just thought ‘let me get there’ – I had to tell Ama [Naouirou Ahamada] to leave it, I think. Thankfully he left it!
“I just thought ‘I need to get there’! It was a good finish, man! To be fair, in that position, I know just to keep it low and on target, so that’s what I tried to do. Thankfully, it went in.”
Tyrick Mitchell’s performance
The goal capped off a sensational performance from the 24-year-old, who helped keep a clean sheet at Turf Moor in what was an important victory for Roy Hodgson’s side.
Crystal Palace found themselves under pressure from Burnley, but Mitchell remained resolute at the back, making five clearances and a tackle as Hodgson’s side dug deep to secure a victory.
Palace’s defence has been a strong point this season, and they are now joint-top for clean sheets in the Premier League.
Whilst Joachim Andersen and Marc Guehi have perhaps rightfully taken a lot of the plaudits for this solidity, Mitchell has started every league game this season, and is a crucial part of the back four.
His goal was a nice moment for both him and the club, and he will have savoured every minute of it given how rare they are: in 116 appearances for Crystal Palace, he has scored just twice.
