Crystal Palace’s Best Defensive Duos in History

Crystal Palace’s greatest sides have always been built on resilient defences, with certain partnerships at the back becoming as iconic as the club’s flair players further forward. From no‑nonsense stoppers in the 1970s to modern ball‑playing centre-backs, these duos have underpinned promotion campaigns, survival battles and cup runs.​

Jim Cannon and Paul Hinshelwood

Club appearance record‑holder Jim Cannon was the cornerstone of Palace’s defence from the mid‑1970s to late 1980s, making over 650 appearances and captaining the side through promotions and relegations. At his peak he formed a reliable partnership with versatile defender Paul Hinshelwood, who converted from midfield to full-back/centre-back and was twice named Palace Player of the Year in the early 1980s. Together they anchored the defence of the so‑called “Team of the Eighties”, balancing Cannon’s aerial dominance with Hinshelwood’s technique and reading of the game.​

Eric Young and Andy Thorn

The early 1990s side that finished third in the First Division and reached the 1990 FA Cup final leaned heavily on the rugged pairing of Eric Young and Andy Thorn. Signed from Wimbledon, Young and Thorn brought a direct, physically imposing style, excelling in the air and attacking set pieces at both ends of the pitch. Their understanding helped Palace concede relatively few goals during the 1990–91 campaign, providing the platform for Wright and Bright to flourish up front.​

Gareth Southgate and Richard Shaw

Academy graduate Gareth Southgate emerged as a composed, intelligent defender in the early 1990s, eventually captaining Palace to the First Division title in 1993–94 before moving on to Aston Villa. Frequently paired with Richard Shaw, a tenacious and underrated centre-back/left-back, Southgate offered leadership and distribution while Shaw provided aggression and positional nous. This combination underpinned both Palace’s final pre‑Premier League top‑flight campaigns and their successful push for promotion under Alan Smith.​

Damien Delaney and Scott Dann

In the modern era, the Delaney–Dann partnership became synonymous with Palace’s Premier League consolidation after promotion in 2013. Damien Delaney, initially signed as an emergency Championship stop-gap, evolved into a cult hero with his commitment, last‑ditch blocks and leadership. Alongside him, Scott Dann added organisational quality, strong tackling and a genuine threat from set pieces, contributing crucial goals in relegation scraps and big wins against top-six opponents. Their understanding was central to Palace’s reputation as one of the league’s most awkward defensive units in the mid‑2010s.​

Joachim Andersen and Marc Guéhi

The current era has seen a stylistic shift with Joachim Andersen and Marc Guéhi forming one of the Premier League’s most consistent ball‑playing partnerships. Guéhi, signed from Chelsea, brings pace, anticipation and leadership despite his age, quickly becoming a full England international and regular starter. Andersen complements him with long‑range passing, composure under pressure and strong aerial ability, with data analysts highlighting the duo among the league’s most frequently used and effective centre-back combinations since 2021–22.​

Notable Defensive Duos Table