Palace beat Saints to go sixth

Home News Premium Sports Betting Recomemndations Contact

Which Premier League club has gone 55 games without an English goalscorer?View more

12 Dec 2015

By Aimee Lewis BSports

Crystal Palace moved up to sixth in the table thanks to a Yohan Cabaye winner that inflicted a third defeat in four league games on struggling Southampton.

The hosts fully deserved their first Premier League win over Southampton, a victory that also extended Palace's unbeaten run to three league games.

Yannick Bolasie's perfect cross allowed the unmarked Cabaye to tap home from six yards late in the first half.

Southampton's best chance was a Shane Long strike late on.

Wayne Hennessey's stop to prevent the Republic of Ireland striker's low shot earning Southampton an injury-time equaliser was the Welshman's second outstanding save of the day - the first was an acrobatic reach to tip away the same player's goal-bound header when the match was goalless.

It ensured only Palace's fourth clean sheet in 24 home league matches, as the hosts held on for a win that moves them level on points with Tottenham, who are fifth on goal difference.

Follow all the reaction to the match.

Bolasie & Cabaye key for Palace

Wilfried Zaha returned from suspension to boost Crystal Palace's attacking armoury, but it was his fellow winger Bolasie who shone brightest.

The DR Congo international, who signed a contract extension in September, was valued - optimistically perhaps - at £40m by Alan Pardew last season, but once again he proved why his manager rates him so highly.

His pace and strength caused Southampton's defence frequent problems, no more so than when the winger outmuscled captain Jose Fonte to cross to Cabaye for the opening goal.

One second-half move saw him collect the ball inside his own half and beat several defenders as his run took him all the way into the opposition box - although the final ball was disappointing.

He and Cabaye were a threat throughout, Palace manager Alan Pardew describing the Frenchman's performance in midfield as "outstanding".

Palace were clinical for their goal. Yannick Bolasie (number 10) burst through Southampton's defensive line and provided a superb cross from the right which Yohan Cabaye simply side-footed home

Gazzaniga keeps Saints in it

Despite their recent dip in form, Southampton would have hoped that a trip to Selhurst Park - a ground where they have won their last seven league games against Palace - would spark a change in their fortunes.

But while they saw plenty of possession, the visitors lacked confidence in the final third and only occasionally tested Palace.

Saints boss Ronald Koeman can thank his goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga for keeping his team in the match in the first half - the Italian making three saves in quick succession with the score goalless.

First, he stopped Bolasie's looping shot from curling into the top corner and then kept out Cabaye and Connor Wickham from close range.

Wickham - who has yet to score for Palace - went close again after the break but, thanks to Hennessey, Palace did not need their £9m striker firing on all cylinders as the Londoners went on to record back-to-back home wins in the league for the first time since April 2014.

Man of the match - Yannick Bolasie (Crystal Palace)

The winger surged forward with intent and was a threat down both flanks. He created Cabaye's goal - and had Wilfried Zaha been more clinical, he would have had a second assist.

What the managers said

Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew: "It was a tough game - Southampton really applied themselves well but I thought we edged it in certain areas.

"Our wide players were terrific, but the difference between the two sides was a masterclass in midfield from Cabaye. He showed every reason why we spent the pennies to bring him here.

"This is a good team. I am very proud to be manager of it and they worked very hard for it. The scoreline says it was a 1-0 but it was more than that - the two keepers had to be brilliant."

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman: "I'm disappointed about the final result, but not in the performance of the team.

"The wind made it very difficult to play our football. Maybe it suited Palace more because they play more direct than we do, but we controlled it for 20 minutes but then they scored. We were the better team in second half and dominated, and we're disappointed not score in the last seconds.

"Maybe we lack a bit of confidence, but the boys showed good character. It's now four or five games where we don't win. I'm a little bit worried about that but not worried about the spirit."

The stats you need to know

This was Crystal Palace's first top-flight win against Southampton in their past 14 attempts (drawn four, lost nine).
Yannick Bolasie provided his first Premier League assist since March and his first in 24 Premier League apps.
The Eagles have lost just one of their past six Premier League matches, winning three (W3 D2 L1).
Yohan Cabaye scored his fifth Premier League goal for Crystal Palace and his first in open play since the opening day of the 2015-16 season.

What next?

Former Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino will return to St Mary's next weekend as his Tottenham side, who are just three points from a Champions League spot, face Southampton. It is a fixture current Saints boss Ronald Koeman has described as "nice".

Palace, too, have a tough assignment as they go to Stoke. Mark Hughes' men are below the Londoners in the league, but are enjoying a fine run of form - having convincingly beaten Manchester City last weekend and kept seven clean sheets in their past nine league games.

Lineup, Bookings (0) & Substitutions (5)

Crystal Palace

13 Hennessey
02 Ward
06 Dann
27 Delaney
23 Souaré
11 Zaha
07 Cabaye
18 McArthur
42 Puncheon (Mutch - 85' )
10 Bolasie
21 Wickham (Chamakh - 92' )

Substitutes

03 Mariappa
09 Campbell
12 McCarthy
14 Lee Chung-yong
22 Mutch
29 Chamakh
34 Kelly

Southampton

25 Gazzaniga
17 van Dijk
06 Fonte
03 Yoshida (Tadic - 67' )
02 Soares
12 Wanyama
14 Romeu (Ward-Prowse - 79' )
21 Bertrand
10 Mané
08 Davis (Pellè - 67' )
07 Long

Substitutes

01 Davis
04 Clasie
11 Tadic
15 Martina
16 Ward-Prowse
19 Pellè
20 Juanmi

Ref: Mike Dean

Att: 24,914

Match Stats

Possession 43 57

Shots

12 15

On target

5 3

Corners

8 5

Fouls

11 13

Live Text Commentary

Full time

Full Time Match ends, Crystal Palace 1, Southampton 0.

90:00 +3:50 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Crystal Palace 1, Southampton 0.

90:00 +3:08

Attempt missed. Shane Long (Southampton) header from the right side of the six yard box misses to the left. Assisted by Dusan Tadic with a cross following a corner.

90:00 +2:48

Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Wayne Hennessey.

90:00 +2:46

Attempt saved. Shane Long (Southampton) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Graziano Pellè with a headed pass.

90:00 +1:43 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Crystal Palace. Marouane Chamakh replaces Connor Wickham.