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Carabao Cup: Vieira’s wait for first win goes on as Palace suffer exit

 

Patrick Vieira’s winless start as Crystal Palace manager extended to three games as the Eagles suffered a 1-0 loss at Watford in the Carabao Cup second round on Tuesday.

Vieira replaced the popular Roy Hodgson as Palace boss in the close-season, but the former Arsenal and France star has endured a miserable beginning with the south London club.

Palace lost 3-0 at Chelsea in their Premier League opener before being held to a dour 0-0 draw by promoted Brentford on Saturday.

Hoping for the first win and first goal of his reign, Vieira selected a strong team for their trip to Vicarage Road in the Carabao Cup.

But despite the presence of Ivory Coast forward Wilfried Zaha, Palace once again drew a blank as an 86th minute goal from Ashley Fletcher condemned Vieira to his second defeat.

With a penalty shoot-out just four minutes away, Cucho Hernandez’s cross reached Fletcher to tap in at the far post.

It won’t get any easier for Vieira, who was sacked by French club Nice in 2020.

Vieira’s team travel to Premier League leaders West Ham on Saturday before facing Tottenham and Liverpool in their first two games after the international break.

“We have to change our mentality when we are in the opposition half. We have to be more aggressive and determined to take those chances because today we didn’t do it,” Vieira said.

“There is a lot of frustration on our side because I think we created enough to win. I am disappointed because up front we have to improve ourselves.

“If we want to win football matches, we have to score goals and this is not the case.”

 

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