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
Elsewhere, Chelsea are still goalless with Leeds at Stamford Bridge. That means, as things stand, Villa would climb into the top half of the Premier League.
Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace
On the Premier League's current longest winless streak, Palace have now failed to score in the first half in each of their last nine Premier League matches. The Eagles demonstrate a greater attacking threat after the break if they are to avoid leaving Villa Park empty-handed.
Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace
Joachim Andersen's own-goal separates the sides at half-time at Villa Park, where the hosts have been decent value for their lead. Although, they should probably be two goals to the good after Ollie Watkins' squandered a glaring opportunity to double the lead just before the break.
Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace
Watkins should definitely have added to his tally of eight Premier League goals this season. The first Villa player to score in five successive Premier League appearances, he could soon become the first since Christian Benteke to reach double figures in three straight campaigns.
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