Match ends, Crystal Palace 3, Aston Villa 1.
Wilfried Zaha scored twice as Crystal Palace earned their first win of the season after coming from a goal down to beat Aston Villa in a lively encounter at Selhurst Park.
Villa got off to the perfect start when Ollie Watkins fired low past Vicente Guaita to give the visitors a fifth-minute lead.
But Palace restored parity on the counter less than three minutes later through the impressive Zaha, who shook off Ezri Konsa and beat Emiliano Martinez with a low shot.
The hosts thought they had turned the game on its head when Jeffrey Schlupp struck after 26 minutes only for VAR to adjudge that Odsonne Edouard had strayed offside before finding the Ghana midfielder.
However, VAR later awarded Palace a penalty after Marc Guehi's back-post header struck Lucas Digne's arm, with Zaha scoring on the rebound having seen his spot-kick saved by Martinez.
Substitute Jean-Philippe Mateta wrapped up the win for Palace with a well-taken strike - only a minute after replacing Edouard.
"Today, we had a really good performance," said Palace boss Patrick Vieira.
"From the first minute until the last we played with a lot of intensity and I was really proud of the players.
"It's one of the most consistent performances that we had from the start to the end."
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Zaha shines for impressive Palace
On target in the draw at Liverpool on Monday, Zaha took centre stage for Palace once again as he inspired Vieira's side to a deserved win with his all-action display ably supported by the lively Eberechi Eze.
But Zaha and his team-mates had to do it the hard way after Watkins struck early for Villa, sweeping a confident shot into the bottom corner after Tyrone Mings' long ball was flicked on by Leon Bailey.
Palace responded strongly, however, and were back on level terms when Zaha scored on the counter just moment after Villa playmaker Emiliano Buendia had seen a penalty appeal waved away following Cheick Doucoure's challenge.
The hosts pushed for a second before the break but were frustrated as Schlupp misjudged a free header before being denied by VAR, while Edouard's appeal for a penalty was turned down following a tussle with Mings.
Zaha then weaved his way around a couple of Villa defenders before pulling a cross back to Jordan Ayew, whose first-time shot was pushed away by Martinez.
While Bailey struck the crossbar for Villa with a curling effort six minutes after the break, Palace profited from a lengthy VAR check after Guehi's header struck Digne's arm.
Martinez beat away Zaha's effort from the spot but the Ivorian was on hand to lash home the rebound and was also involved in Palace's third, playing Tyrick Mitchell in down the left, enabling the England full-back to cross for Mateta to condemn Villa to a second successive defeat on the road.
Zaha's double takes the 29-year-old to 12 Premier League goals for 2022, matching Luka Milivojevic's club record for most goals in a calendar year.
"For me, it's harsh," Gerrard said of the penalty.
"I'm not sure what Lucas can do in the situation. He tries to compete honestly for the ball, he tries to jump naturally.
"He's not trying to gain an advantage or stop the header on goal. It's a complete accident."
Player of the match
MatetaJean-Philippe Mateta
Crystal Palace
Avg
- Squad number14Player nameMatetaAverage rating
8.02
- Squad number11Player nameZahaAverage rating
7.65
- Squad number19Player nameHughesAverage rating
7.57
- Squad number10Player nameEzeAverage rating
7.45
- Squad number7Player nameOliseAverage rating
7.43
- Squad number26Player nameRichardsAverage rating
7.40
- Squad number4Player nameMilivojevicAverage rating
7.24
- Squad number22Player nameÉdouardAverage rating
6.85
- Squad number3Player nameMitchellAverage rating
6.85
- Squad number16Player nameAndersenAverage rating
6.75
- Squad number6Player nameGuéhiAverage rating
6.74
- Squad number15Player nameSchluppAverage rating
6.68
- Squad number9Player nameJ AyewAverage rating
6.59
- Squad number2Player nameWardAverage rating
6.59
- Squad number28Player nameDoucouréAverage rating
6.58
- Squad number13Player nameGuaitaAverage rating
6.47
Aston Villa
Avg
- Squad number11Player nameWatkinsAverage rating
5.54
- Squad number1Player nameE MartínezAverage rating
5.40
- Squad number7Player nameMcGinnAverage rating
5.32
- Squad number10Player nameBuendíaAverage rating
5.24
- Squad number31Player nameBaileyAverage rating
5.03
- Squad number5Player nameMingsAverage rating
4.82
- Squad number2Player nameCashAverage rating
4.79
- Squad number44Player nameKamaraAverage rating
4.74
- Squad number41Player nameJ RamseyAverage rating
4.51
- Squad number4Player nameKonsaAverage rating
4.29
- Squad number27Player nameDigneAverage rating
4.25
- Squad number9Player nameIngsAverage rating
3.74
- Squad number23Player namePhilippe CoutinhoAverage rating
3.60
- Squad number6Player nameDouglas LuizAverage rating
3.58
Line-ups
Crystal Palace
Formation 4-3-3
- 13Guaita
- 2Ward
- 16Andersen
- 6Guéhi
- 3Mitchell
- 15SchluppBooked at 75minsSubstituted forHughesat 82'minutes
- 28Doucouré
- 10EzeSubstituted forRichardsat 90+1'minutes
- 9J AyewSubstituted forOliseat 70'minutes
- 22ÉdouardSubstituted forMatetaat 70'minutes
- 11ZahaBooked at 39minsSubstituted forMilivojevicat 82'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Milivojevic
- 7Olise
- 14Mateta
- 17Clyne
- 19Hughes
- 21Johnstone
- 23Ebiowei
- 26Richards
- 41Whitworth
Aston Villa
Formation 4-3-3
- 1E Martínez
- 2Cash
- 4Konsa
- 5Mings
- 27Digne
- 7McGinnBooked at 36minsSubstituted forDouglas Luizat 73'minutes
- 44Kamara
- 41J Ramsey
- 31BaileySubstituted forIngsat 66'minutes
- 11Watkins
- 10BuendíaSubstituted forCoutinhoat 73'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Douglas Luiz
- 9Ings
- 16Chambers
- 17Augustinsson
- 18Young
- 19Nakamba
- 23Coutinho
- 25Olsen
- 35Archer
- Referee:
- Andy Madley
- Attendance:
- 22,012
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home51%
- Away49%
- Shots
- Home17
- Away13
- Shots on Target
- Home9
- Away5
- Corners
- Home4
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home16
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Crystal Palace 3, Aston Villa 1.
Post update
Attempt saved. Philippe Coutinho (Aston Villa) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Boubacar Kamara.
Post update
Foul by Joachim Andersen (Crystal Palace).
Post update
Danny Ings (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt saved. Will Hughes (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Tyrick Mitchell.
Post update
Attempt missed. Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Douglas Luiz with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Crystal Palace. Chris Richards replaces Eberechi Eze.
Post update
Foul by Luka Milivojevic (Crystal Palace).
Post update
Philippe Coutinho (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Attempt saved. Will Hughes (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Marc Guéhi.
Post update
Attempt missed. Matty Cash (Aston Villa) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Douglas Luiz following a set piece situation.
Post update
Foul by Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace).
Post update
Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt saved. Philippe Coutinho (Aston Villa) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Post update
Attempt missed. Danny Ings (Aston Villa) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left.
Post update
Foul by Michael Olise (Crystal Palace).
Post update
Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Crystal Palace. Will Hughes replaces Jeffrey Schlupp.
Substitution
Substitution, Crystal Palace. Luka Milivojevic replaces Wilfried Zaha.
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He probably had ambitions to manage the 'pool one day, now Hartlepool would be stupid for this buffoon to be their manager