Crystal Palace 3 Southampton 0: Christian Benteke double saves Alan Pardew’s skin and ends losing run
James Tomkins also got on the scoresheet as Eagles finally grab win after losing their last six matches
CRYSTAL PALACE ended their barren Premier League run with a crucial 3-0 win over Southampton this afternoon.
The Eagles arrived at Selhurst Park on the back of six consecutive defeats, with Claude Puel’s men recording impressive wins over Everton and Arsenal in their last two games.
But it was under-pressure Alan Pardew who was celebrating at the final whistle as Christian Benteke and James Tomkins struck within three minutes of each other during the first half before the Belgian grabbed a second late on.
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Benteke took advantage of a terrible mistake from Fraser Forster after 33 minutes to slot home before Tomkins found the back of the net moments later.
Palace’s £32million summer signing made sure his side left with all three points with another effort with six minutes remaining, giving the Eagles a bit of daylight from the relegation zone.
Meanwhile, Southampton remain rooted on 17 points and will surely be looking over their shoulder, with just six points separating them from the bottom three.
FACTS, STATS, GOALS AND LOLS
- Palace fans showed their desire for Alan Pardew - a hero here as a player - to end his slump by chanting his name at kick-off
- Pardew was missing the suspended Yohan Cabaye at the worst possible time on this hugely important day and his absence showed as Palace failed to create early on.
- Saints gave Palace their first set-piece test after 22 minutes when Joe Ledley headed away James Ward-Prowse's left-wing effort - with Christian Benteke then clearing Sofiane Boufal's follow-up corner from the other flank.
- Claude Puel’s team were shell-shocked by Palace's quickfire two-goal blast in the first-half because they hadn't conceded at all in the three previous domestic fixtures.
- New England boss Gareth Southgate made his old stomping ground at Selhurst Park his first official scouting port of call - but it wasn't to check on Palace's Wilfried Zaha, who says he now wants to play for Ivory Coast despite playing two Three Lions friendlies.
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