December 26 2014

Scott Dann

Crystal Palace dropped into bottom three after a 3-1 defeat at home to Southampton.

It was a comfortable victory for the Saints who move up to fourth and Palace have still not beaten the south coast side in the Premier League.

Toby Alderweireld gave Palace a scare early on with a looping shot that almost caught Julian Speroni out with the keeper getting the slightest of touches to tip over.

Southampton went ahead on 17 minutes as Sadio Mane ran on to James Ward-Prowse's header which caught the Palace defence napping and he rounded Speroni to score.

Three minutes after the interval, Saints extended their lead through Ryan Bertrand. Mane turned Joel Ward from a throw-in and crossed for Bertrand from the byline to blast into the top corner.

Alderweireld headed Ward-Prowse's corner into the roof of the net for 3-0 five minutes later to seal the game.

With the points lost, Scott Dann nodded a consolation for the Eagles but they have now won just one of last 12 league matches and look in trouble.

Palace: Speroni, Marriappa, Delaney, Dann, Ward, Jedinak, McArthur, Ledley (Zaha 66), Puncheon, Bolasie (Kelly 71), Campbell (Gayle 48).

Not used: Hennessey, Hangeland, Kelly, Bannan, Zaha, Thomas, Gayle,

Southampton: Forster, Gardos, Alderweireld, Yoshida, Clyne (McCarthy 86), Schneiderlin, Ward-Prowse, S Davis (Wanyama 55), Bertrand, Pellè (Long 71), Mané.

Not used: K Davis, Long, Wanyama, Tadic, Reed, McCarthy, Targett

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