January 13 2018

Bakary Sako

Crystal Palace continued their excellent form in the Premier League with a 1-0 win at home to Burnley.

The victory for Roy Hodgson's side lifts them up to 12th in the table – five points above the danger zone – after just one league defeat in 12 matches.

Bakary Sako's first-half strike proved decisive for the Eagles, but he was denied a penalty claim in the early stages after defender James Tarkowski tangled with him in the box.

He found the net in the 21st minute, however, with a trademark rocket shot from an acute angle on the left that was too much for keeper Nick Pope to keep out. It was Sako's sixth goal of the season.

Shortly after, Palace were inches away from scoring another after Wilfried Zaha knocked the ball past the out-coming Pope and defender Ben Mee bravely slid in to stop James McArthur from poking over the goal line.

Burnley's best chance from the opening period was an Ashley Barnes effort that was palmed over the crossbar by Wayne Hennessey.

Sako almost struck home another with an audacious volley from Timothy Fosu-Mensah's cross but it rocketed past the upright.

A Sean Dyche rollicking at the break inspired the Clarets as they searched in vain for a goal with Sam Vokes nodding into the side-netting.

Hennessey then had to be on his toes to rush out of goal and block Barnes as Burnley edged towards an equaliser.

Christian Benteke should have sealed the win at the end but fired an excellent chance wide as Palace nervously held on for the three points.

Palace: Hennessey, Fosu-Mensah, Tomkins, Kelly, Van Aanholt, Zaha, Milivojevic, Riedewald, McArthur, Sako, Benteke.

Not used: Speroni, Souare, Wan-Bissaka, Delaney, Cabaye, Lee, Kaikai.

Burnley: Pope, Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor, Gudmundsson (Wells 86), Cork, Defour, Barnes, Hendrick (Nkoudou 64), Vokes.

Not used: Lindegaard, Lowton, Long, Westwood, Walters.

2017/18 match reports

2017/18 squad stats

Premier League table

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