Adam Wharton finally has his first goal for Crystal Palace – now it's time to add more

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A low, fizzing drive from the edge of the area, dummied by Ismaila Sarr and squeezed through the arms of goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher. More impressive, perhaps, was the double backflip produced in celebration. This was not just Wharton’s first goal for Palace but the first time a midfielder has scored in the Premier League since Glasner took over as manager from Roy Hodgson in February 2024. For Wharton, there had been near misses until his first goal in any competition — most notably an attempt that crashed against the crossbar in the 2-1 defeat by Strasbourg in the UEFA Conference League, admittedly with the goal gaping, was the closest he had come. Finally, though, he had his goal. “If Wharton scores, we’re on the pitch,” Palace fans have sung of late, an attempt at encouragement and humour. They may not have pitch-invaded but Wharton’s parents were in the stands to see their son score. “Adam Wharton’s mum” was the song of choice when the travelling supporters clocked on, turning to her, and then to his dad, in unison to celebrate the 22-year-old putting their side 2-1 up in west London. “Five more years, five more years, Adam Wharton,” was next up, before they encouraged him to shoot at every opportunity. In stoppage time, Palace broke and Wharton, under pressure, looked like he might be able to repeat the success from earlier, only for that pressure to tell and for his shot to be blocked. But it was another encouraging moment to be higher up the pitch in a moment that could have mattered, in a place to have the shot. At full time, he was pushed forward by Will Hughes and Maxence Lacroix to take in the appreciation of the supporters, looking almost sheepish at the attention. But he deserves it for his performances over the season and to finally cap it with a goal. It should have come sooner, and he has improved in front of goal as the season has drawn towards its conclusion, but at least it has now finally arrived. “It was a question of time for me,” Glasner said in his post-match press conference. “He has the most assists. We spoke about it that we always need him a little bit closer to the box. “The assist was (after he forced the) keeper to make a good save against Shakhtar Donetsk and he hit the post against Everton from the same position with his right foot. Today was the third try, hopefully one or two more might follow.” It is a feature rather than a bug of Palace’s play under Glasner that no midfielder had scored in the league until now, and it has been a source of additional pressure for his attacking players. The two No 6s, have, typically, been facilitators rather than direct threats themselves. Those rare times where they have threatened to score, they have been let down by their finishing. “He used to play like a No 6, he was always great getting the game into final third with his passing quality,” Glasner said in a March press conference before Palace’s Conference League last-16 first leg against AEK Larnaca. “His next step is showing this passing quality in the final third. His first step was this. Having seven assists (now 10) is great, then the second is getting in positions where you can score. “Adam is so open to learning and improving that he then will take chances and score. He is in these positions. We all want everything at once, that’s how we are, but for Adam, there has been huge progress with his assists and his quality. Also, not just showing in our half but in the opposite half. Then the next step will definitely come.” It did finally come against Brentford, with a slice of fortune in that Kelleher was unsighted but also because he was able to control his shot rather than balloon it over the bar. The main thing holding Wharton back is that lack of goals. His passing range and vision are exceptional and his tenacity when challenging has come on significantly to enable him to win more of those midfield battles. He scored only four goals for Blackburn Rovers and, while he ought to have scored before for Palace, it will be a welcome addition to his game to have added one in the top flight at last. That is particularly so given that he will hope to be named in England head coach Thomas Tuchel’s squad for the summer’s World Cup on Friday. Tuchel’s mind is probably already made up, and Wharton’s consistent inclusion in squads this season suggest he stands a good chance of being rewarded again, but, regardless, this goal was very well timed. Spot the pattern. 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