August 27 2016

Scott Dann

Crystal Palace won their first point of the season after a stoppage-time equaliser earned a 1-1 draw at home to Bournemouth.

Skipper Scott Dann levelled matters in the third minute of stoppage time – his second goal of the week – to give Palace a deserved share of the spoils.

It was a surprise line-up from Palace manager Alan Pardew who gave record £27million signing Christian Benteke his league debut and played him alongside Connor Wickham in a 442 formation. Winger Wilfried Zaha, who was linked with a transfer to Tottenham in midweek, was dropped to the bench.

Palace failed to get going with the change in style and allowed a hungry looking Bournemouth to dominate early proceedings. And the Cherries scored the first goal in the 10th minute as Palace again failed to defend a set-piece for the third success league match.

A free-kick – one of a few given away by Damien Delaney – was sent in by Andrew Surman but was only half cleared to Harry Artur and his pin-point pass to Josh King was rifled home from an acute angle.

The hosts were handed a lifeline four minutes later when referee Mike Dean awarded a penalty after Charlie Daniels pulled Christian Benteke's shirt in the area. However, Yohan Cabaye's kick to Artur Boruc's right was at the perfect height for the keeper and he pushed it away.

Andros Townsend was unlucky not to find his first Palace goal with a dipping strike that a back-peddling Boruc managed to claw away to safety.

Bournemouth went close to adding another goal but Mandanda came out quickly to block Callum Wilson's shot. The dominant Cherries went in at the break worthy of their lead, while the home fans booed their side off for another poor display.

Palace were totally rejuvenated for the second half after a rollicking from Pardew, forcing a succession of corners, and Artur cleared Dann's header off the line.

They camped in the Bournemouth half and created multiple opportunities to score. Wickham lofted a shot high and over, James McArthur and Benteke headed wide as Palace piled on the pressure.

Lee Chung-yong and Wilfried Zaha were introduced by Pardew and they helped turn the screw on the south coast outfit.

Lee and Pape Souare tred their luck, while Benteke tangled with two Bournemouth defenders before Townsend blasted the loose ball into the side netting. Boruc saved from Lee and Benteke shot well over the crossbar in stoppage time and you sensed it wasn't going to be Palace's day.

However, with seconds remaining up popped Dann to nod in Jason Puncheon's cross for Palace's first league goal of the season to record a vital point.

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