April 5 2017

Christian Benteke

Crystal Palace's hopes of survival took a dent after they lost 3-1 at Southampton.

Their four-match winning run came to an abrupt halt as the Saints netted two goals in the last five minutes to secure what was probably a deserved victory.

Palace began well and got their noses in front with a well-worked team goal after 31 minutes. Wilfried Zaha went on a probing run on the left, squared to Jason Puncheon and he fed Andros Townsend on the right who crossed for Christian Benteke to prod home his 11th league goal of the season.

Referee Roger East denied Southampton claims for a penalty after Jeffrey Schlupp appeared to handle in the box.

However, the Saints got a lucky refereeing decision when Zaha was shoved to the ground by Steven Davis by the touchline in the build-up to their equaliser on the stroke of half-time and Nathan Redmond turned in his resulting cross.

Palace produced a number of brave defensive blocks to keep out the Saints attack but they eventually succumbed in the 84th minute through Maya Yoshida who scored for the hosts.

And a minute later, Southampton made it 3-1 when James Ward-Prowse put away a Cedric Soares.

Southampton: Forster, Soares, Stephens, Yoshida, McQueen, Davis (Hojbjerg 87), Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Tadic, Redmond (Rodriguez 90), Long.

Not used: Hassen, Pied, Caceres, Clasie, Sims.

Palace: Hennessey, Ward, Sakho, Kelly, Schlupp (Delaney 58), Milivojevic (Flamini 88), Cabaye (Sako 46), Zaha, Puncheon, Townsend, C. Benteke.

Not used: Speroni, Fryers, Lee, Kaikai.

2016/17 match reports

2016/17 squad stats

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