CRYSTAL Palace manager Dougie Freedman was once again left praising his young players as Wilfried Zaha’s second-half brace sent the Eagles soaring into the second round of the Carling Cup.

The 18-year-old got himself on to the score sheet or the first time since the opening day of last season as Palace coasted to a comfortable 2-0 win over Crawley Town at Selhurst Park.

A delighted Freedman said: “It was a very difficult match against a local rival who were really looking for the victory in the way they played.

“They were a real credit to their club but my lads stood up to be counted.

“There are a lot of teenagers in the team and Wilfried Zaha stuck two in for the teenagers, so it was a good result.”

Zaha took his opening goal in clinical fashion but his manager admits he is not quite the finished article in front of goal.

“Wilfried’s not really a goal scorer yet, he’s not got the natural instincts of a goal scorer,” added Freedman.

This was proven when Zaha missed a couple of opportunities to take home the match ball, although Freedman insists more goals will come if the England U19 international keeps working on his finishing and getting into scoring positions.

“ He’s a fantastic provider of goals but it is something he’s been working on a lot with a lot of finishing and I felt that even his chance to get a third goal that he will be unhappy with, I was delighted with because he shows he’s in that area to score goals,” the manager said.

“Unfortunately he missed it, but they will come so I’m happy for Wilfried.”

The Palace boss was also eager to recognise the contribution of a number of other youngsters, in particular 17-year-old Johnny Williams, who played a major role in both of Palace’s goals on his competitive debut.

He said: “I’m also happy for Johnny Williams, Stuart O’Keefe and Matty Parsons, all of these teenage players who came in and played against a very, very good team in Crawley who are top of the league and in my opinion will get promotion this year.

“My youngsters stood up to be counted and came out on top which is fantastic.”

Palace didn’t have it all their own way, though, with the visitors spurning a number of golden opportunities to take the lead.

And Freedman was forced to reshuffle his pack at the break, bringing on captain Paddy McCarthy at the back and moving Zaha up front with Calvin Andrew.

The changes did the trick and the Eagles showed their class as the second-half went on.

He explained: “We changed it a little bit, we had to ask a few more questions so we changed it a bit in terms of the balance of the team and I just asked them a few questions of themselves and maybe get on the front foot a little more and get the a little more link up play.

“Paddy’s a captain, he gets on and him and Andrew Davies and Lewis Price commanded the area.

“I thought they threw a lot at us but I felt we were comfortable in the second-half and started picking them off with good passing, which resulted in a couple of good goals.”

The victory sets up a second round encounter with Premier League Wigan and promises to be an emotional occasion with former Eagles Victor Moses, Ben Watson and Emmerson Boyce plying their trade for the Lancashire outfit.

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