Dwight McNeil should start for Crystal Palace vs Leeds, the data makes selection clear
Crystal Palace started their Europa League campaign on Thursday with a brilliant 3-0 victory over Lech Poznan.
It was a superb performance from Pierre Sage’s side as they showcased why they are one of the favourites to win the competition.
Multiple players were excellent at Selhurst Park, and one performance that may have gone under the radar was that of Dwight McNeil.
The 26-year-old came off the bench just after the hour mark and proceeded to dominate the game.
The former Everton man proved to be a menace and picked up an assist for his troubles in the tie.
Now, Palace must look to start McNeil for their away clash against Leeds United on Sunday to give the club the best chance of picking up a result.
How good was Dwight McNeil vs Lech Poznan?
McNeill no doubt had an excellent game against Lech Poznan.
According to Fotmob, he created the joint-most chances at three, had an xA of 0.26, completed 100 per cent of his passes, had one touch in the opposition’s box, made two tackles, three interceptions and won three out of four ground duels.
This is highly impressive considering this came in the Europa League and he was only on the pitch for 28 minutes.
As a result, he now must be rewarded with a start at Elland Road on the weekend.
Sage has to pick players on form given the club’s current position in the Premier League, and O’Neil deserves to be rewarded for his recent display.
What were the stats in Crystal Palace vs Lech Poznan?
When examining the stats, Palace no doubt deserved to win on the night.
The hosts had 53 per cent possession, 16 shots, six of which were on target, 26 touches in the opposition’s box, three big chances and a 2.23 xG.
In comparison, the Polish side have 47 per cent possession, 17 shots, six of which were on target, 26 touches in the opposition’s box, four big chances and a 1.55 xG.
However, it remains to be seen if Palace can now use this result to help them return to form in the Premier League as they look to pull away from the relegation zone.