Maresca knows the importance of Palmer’s goals to his side’s chances in the run-in, hence the decision to start him in Europe for the first time against Copenhagen on Thursday night in the hope a step down in competition might shake the rut. The Italian can only be so accommodating, though. Here, he took his talisman off with 20 minutes to play and only one goal in it, the first time Palmer has been substituted all season in a game not already won.
