Patrick Vieira explains Odsonne Edouard challenge ahead of visit to Aston Villa and Mateta claim made

Both Odssone Edoaurd and Jean-Philippe Mateta have just four league goals between them this season.
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Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira is hoping that leaving Odssone Edoaurd out of the starting 11 recently will get him fired up for the remainder of the season.

Jean-Philippe Mateta has recently been preferred to Edouard even though the former Celtic forward has more goals- three compared to Mateta’s one all season.

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There is also a feeling within the fanbase that Edouard holds up the play better but Vieira is adamant Mateta is giving him more at the moment in his all round play, but hopes Edoaurd feels the pain of being left on the bench in a good way.

Vieira told reporters ahead of the game to Aston Villa: “I hope he’s getting frustrated, I want more from Edouard – he can be a really important player for us.

“I want more from him. I hope that not starting the last couple of games hurts him and he shows more.

“JP’s work ethic, with the way the team is defending from the front, allows us to be more solid, especially at the back.

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“He brings us physicality and energy. His work out of possession has been fantastic for the team.

“Of course, when strikers don’t score, they start to doubt themselves, but the message has been clear to him and the strikers – there is no doubt in my mind about the quality of the players that we have.”

Palace are without a league win this year but have picked up important points against Brighton, Brentford, Newcastle, Manchester United and Liverpool.