Crystal Palace 1 Southampton 0 match report: Yohan Cabaye the difference as Eagles climb Premier League table

Crystal Palace 1 Southampton 0

Yohan Cabaye celebrates his goal against Southampton (Getty)

It was lucky 13 for Crystal Palace as they finally ended their Premier League hoodoo against Southampton thanks to Yohan Cabaye’s first-half winner.

It may not have been pretty, bar some exquisite work from Cabaye and good wing play by Wilfried Zaha and Yannick Bolasie, but it will be welcome relief to Palace’s supporters.

Cabaye pulled the strings, and Palace manager Alan Pardew said: “It was a master class. If you want to see how a midfielder plays in the Premier League – tackling, passing and being on the ball. He did everything and was the difference.”

Cabaye was denied by a brilliant save from Paulo Gazzaniga from his well-struck shot before Connor Wickham headed straight at the Southampton goalkeeper from Cabaye’s corner.

Ronald Koeman (Getty)

Despite being outplayed, the visitors nearly took the lead on the break through Shane Long before Steven Davis’ header from Cedric Soares’ cross was superbly saved by Wayne Hennessey.

But Palace took the lead seven minutes before the break when Cabaye slotted home from four yards out from Bolasie’s cross with question marks over the Southampton defending.

Cabaye has scored five goals for Palace and is more than justifying Pardew’s decision to recruit him following their time at Newcastle.

Palace players celebrate after the win against Southampton (Getty Images)

Palace should have put the game to bed when Zaha missed from Bolasie’s cross while Wickham went close to a first goal for the club when his left-foot shot was well saved by Gazzaniga.

Those misses nearly proved costly when deep into stoppage time Long raced clear one-on-one with Hennessey, who saved well.

“I felt we deserved something,” said Southampton manager Ronald Koeman. “We controlled the game and dominated.”

Crystal Palace: (4-2-3-1) Hennessey; Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souaré; McArthur, Cabaye; Zaha, Puncheon (Mutch, 85), Bolasie; Wickham (Chamakh, 90).

Southampton: (4-2-3-1) Gazzinga; Soares, Fonte, Van Dijk, Bertrand; Wanyama, Yoshida (Tadic, 67); Mané, S Davis (Pelle, 67), Romeu (Ward-Prowse, 79); Long.

Referee: Mike Dean

Man of the match: Cabaye (Palace)

Match rating: 6/10