Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction
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Crystal Palace’s slow drift into the Premier League relegation fight continued as Joachim Andersen’s own goal was enough to condemn them to a 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa.
Denmark defender Andersen turned a Matty Cash cross into his own net after 27 minutes and there was little sign of a fightback from Patrick Vieira’s side even before six minutes of madness from Cheick Doucoure saw him dismissed for two yellow cards early in the second half.
Unai Emery’s first victory over Palace keeps a Villa side once with relegation worries of their own in touch with the European battle, but though only one place separates these two clubs in the table it is a very different picture for Vieira.
The Frenchman insisted this week he does not fear the prospect of a relegation battle but he surely should as his side’s winless 2023 continued, leaving them only six points clear of the bottom three.
Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace
The recent history of this fixture favours Villa, who have lost just one of their last 10 meetings with Palace on home soil, winning five. The Eagles' sole victory during that span came courtesy of a 1-0 success in December 2013.
Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace
After four games out with a hamstring injury, Zaha returns to lead the Palace line in one of two alterations from their goalless draw with Liverpool. The other sees Eze return to the starting line-up with Mateta dropping to the bench, while Jeffrey Schlupp misses out. McArthur is also named among the substitutes and looking to make his first appearance of the season.
Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace
Unai Emery makes two changes from Villa's win at Everton with Moreno and Buendia replacing Digne and Bailey, who drop to the bench. Philippe Coutinho will not be available until after the international break due to a thigh injury, while Leander Dendoncker is absent due to personal reasons.
Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace
SUBS: Joe Whitworth, Chris Richards, Joel Ward, James McArthur, Naouirou Ahamada, Will Hughes, Luka Milivojevic, Odsonne Edouard, Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace
CRYSTAL PALACE (4-2-3-1): Vicente Guaita; Nathaniel Clyne, Joachim Andersen, Marc Guehi, Tyrick Mitchell; Cheick Doucoure, Albert Sambi Lakonga; Michael Olise, Jordan Ayew, Eberechi Eze; Wilfried Zaha.
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