Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew praises 'amazing' Chung-Yong Lee
Saturday 19 December 2015 19:31, UK
Alan Pardew said Chung-Yong Lee "brought the house down" on the Crystal Palace bench with his winner at Stoke City.
The Eagles led through Connor Wickham's first-half penalty, awarded after Glenn Whelan fouled Wilfried Zaha, but they looked to be on course for just a point after Stoke's Bojan Krkic converted from 12 yards himself following Damien Delaney's handball with 14 minutes to go.
However, when Glen Johnson blocked a shot into Lee's path 25 yards out, the substitute shaped a brilliant attempt through a forest of bodies and into Jack Butland's far corner to make it 2-1 and seal the victory.
The win kept Palace in sixth, level on points with Tottenham and Manchester United at Christmas, and Pardew admitted he could not see the winner coming when South Korean Lee stepped forward late on.
"Amazing, wasn't it?" said Pardew.
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It was a really great technical goal because his control to hit that side-footed, with that power, against the wind, was amazing.
"I was right behind it. Jordon (Mutch) has a shot that he completely miscues, Damo has a shot and it gets blocked and comes out and the best you can hope for really is Chungy to put it back into the mixer. He had other ideas.
"It was a really great technical goal because his control to hit that side-footed, with that power, against the wind, was amazing. It obviously brought the house down on our bench."
Pardew brought Lee to Selhurst Park from Bolton in February, but an injury and the form of Yannick Bolasie and Zaha has left the 27-year-old with few opportunities to impress.
"He's a great player, he's unfortunate in this team," Pardew added.
"I brought him to this football club, he would have wanted more opportunities. But, with Bolasie and Zaha filling those wide areas, he doesn't get a lot of opportunities. He certainly woke us all up today.
"He can score goals - usually not from as far back as that, more of a taking people on and weaving his way through type of goals. I'm delighted for him. He's one of the most popular players in our dressing room. The lads are absolutely delighted for him."
