It's still early days in the season, but after Saturday's early kick off, Alan Pardew's Crystal Palace side were sitting among the heavyweights of the Premier League in third position after a 2-0 win over West Brom.
While they probably aren't favourites to continue this push and qualify for the Champions League come the end of the season, but of the 25 matches that Pardew has been in charge of the London club, they've now won 15.
Not a bad return for a side who looked destined for the drop up until he joined them last January, and some good signings during the summer have seen them already start to prove that they are going to be a difficult proposition for most sides this season.
Image: Steve Paston / PA Wire/Press Association Images
Today's game did highlight that Palace have a very solid defense, but that they also have plenty of attacking flair up front, a combination that has seen them earn 15 points from their first 8 games of the season.
Bolasie and Zaha stretched West Brom over and over again, and showcased just how individual skill can benefit the team as a whole. Of the 13 take-ons that Zaha attempted, 10 were successful, beating his man and providing very serious moments of danger for West Brom at the back. That will worry Pulis, but it wasn't the only threat his defence had to be concerned with. Similarly Bolasie had 19 attempts at taking on a defender and was able to get past his man 14 times.
That meant that West Brom had to contend with 21 shots from their opposition, creating just seven themselves, leaving no doubt as to who the dominant team were on this occasion.
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Despite all that dominance, it took until the second half for the opening goal to come, as Bolasie bundled a ball over the line after Cabaye got hold of the ball and lofted it towards the post, where the Congolese was waiting to make sure his side got some reward for their effort.
The Frenchman was also on target from the spot to seal the three points for his side just before the final whistle. Once again it was Zaha causing all the trouble for West Brom, and Chris Brunt was the man who was sucked in and fooled by the trickery as he brought the winger down in the box to concede a penalty which Cabaye slotted home.
Image: Steve Paston / PA Wire/Press Association Images
As for West Brom, there was little to write home about. Their lone striker Salomon Rondon barely saw any service, and while he showed earlier in the season that he can get goals in the Premier League, he would need to get an actual touch of the ball to do that.
For all their defensive organisation, West Brom lacked anything going forward, but while Pulis is an expert at nullifying the opposition, in particular Zaha who looked like he had his sights set to prove that he deserves to be in the starting lineup every week.
It's hardly time to worry for Baggies fans, but despite the fact that we're only in October, it might be time to consider that Crystal Palace could be the real deal this year.
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