Crystal Palace hammer Shelbourne to boost Conference League bid

In-form Crystal Palace eased past Shelbourne 3-0 on Thursday to maintain their chances of an automatic qualifying spot for the UEFA Conference League last 16.

Christantus Uche, Eddie Nketiah and Yeremy Pino scored in Dublin to send Palace to within a point of eighth-placed Mainz.

Palace end their league phase campaign by welcoming Finnish side KuPS next Thursday.

“Credit to the players and the team for their attitude,” Palace coach Oliver Glasner told TNT Sports.

“The pitch wasn’t really in the best condition, playing against a team who wants to show up, and I think we played well in the first half.”

Irish outfit Shelbourne are third from bottom in the table after taking just one point from five matches.

Palace, who have lost just twice since November 1, named a strong side despite Sunday’s Premier League game with second-placed Manchester City, but Glasner left attacker Jean-Philippe Mateta out of the matchday squad.

Nigeria’s Uche opened the scoring after 11 minutes before Nketiah doubled the advantage 14 minutes later.

The three points were secured eight minutes before the break as Spain international Pino scored his third goal of the campaign.

“We have to keep believing. We want to go all the way in this competition,” said Nketiah.

Elsewhere, a much-changed Strasbourg claimed their last-16 berth with a 1-0 win at Aberdeen.