Patrick Vieira faces striker decision ahead of must-win Watford game after Zaha fails audition

The goals have dried up for Crystal Palace, and the Eagles are without a league win since their 3-0 victor over Norwich back in December.

Since then they have won in the FA Cup against Millwall and Hartlepool United, and also had an encouraging 1-1 draw against rivals Brighton at the Amex.

But they were blown away by West Ham, and the 3-2 score line somewhat flattered the South London side.

A painful last-minute defeat to Chelsea has been sandwiched by draws to Norwich and Brentford, with the Eagles strikers failing to find the back of the net.

Jean-Philippe Mateta

In recent times, Patrick Vieira has leaned towards the resurgent Jean-Philippe Mateta, who is enjoying the most game time since joining Palace 18 months ago, but even though his performances have certainly improved the goals have not come along.

He scored in the FA Cup but hasn’t hit the back of the net in the league which will frustrate him.

He watched on from the bench as Wilfried Zaha, normally a winger, was entrusted with the striker’s role against Chelsea and partly against Brentford.

The striker’s improved performances got him a permanent deal at Selhurst Park in January, but he now has to prove that he has what it takes to score goals consistently at this level if he is to see out the full duration of his three-year deal.

Christian Benteke

Then there is the curious case of Christian Benteke, who started the season on fire and playing with confidence and belief.

The Belgian caught Covid and was unlucky to be left out of the team, but recently has looked resigned and flat.

The former Liverpool man has four goals, but hasn’t started a game since New Year’s Day.

It is telling that he has fallen down the pecking order, and is genuinely third choice at the minute with the likes of Mateta and Edouard ahead of him.

The club tried to move him on in the January transfer window when Burnley enquired about his availability, but given that he still has a year left on his contract he decided he was settled and wanted to see out the season out at Selhurst Park.

Jordan Ayew

Ayew has just one goal in more than 40 appearances for the Eagles, but gets into the team for his work rate and ball retention rather than his goals.

But for any forward player that return is pretty poor and has been one of the reasons Palace have such a low return of goals in the league.

Odsonne Edouard

The striker had a fantastic start to life at Crystal Palace, with a brace against Tottenham, but since then he’s drifted in and out of games.

His form has been partly affected by the fact he has been deployed out wide on most occasions, but there was a genuine feeling that he would break into the double figures this season after that had.

His six goals still represent a good start, and if he could rediscover the form he had at the beginning of the season, Palace would have a better chance of breaking into the top ten.

Wilfried Zaha

Zaha has had a below par season by his own standards and there are question being asked if he fits into the way Vieira wants to play.

He was the one who got the nod to play as a striker in the game against Chelsea, and missed two key chances.

He also has six goals for the season, but it just feels like he could have had more.

There is also the issue of his defensive contributions that have gotten him trouble with Vieira.

It will be interesting to see if Vieira decides to keep him up top or revert him to his usual left wing position.