Impressive Palace win at Leicester to climb out of relegation zone | Match Report.
 |
| Crystal Palace's last away goals came in a 2-1 win over Liverpool at Anfield under Sam Allardyce in April |
By Patrick Jennings | BBC Sport
Crystal Palace climbed out of the Premier League relegation zone for the first time this season as they outplayed Claude Puel's resurgent Leicester to seal a rare away win.
Christian Benteke cost Palace victory when he missed an injury-time penalty he was not supposed to take last weekend, but the striker redeemed himself with a first-half header from Andros Townsend's cross - his first goal of the campaign.
Palace had failed to score in their past 10 league away games, but Roy Hodgson's organised and adventurous team added a second before the break when Benteke's strong run and pass set up Wilfried Zaha for a brilliant individual finish.
Leicester only tested goalkeeper Julian Speroni when they rallied in the second half - the Italian reacting superbly to reach Riyad Mahrez's angled low drive with a strong palm.
And any potential comeback was hamstrung when Wilfred Ndidi was sent off on his birthday less than a minute after Vicente Iborra's header was correctly disallowed for a foul.
Ndidi - who turns 21 today - was shown a second yellow card for simulation in the penalty box with just under half an hour to play.
Palace had a much more legitimate penalty shout when Benteke was crumpled in the area by Marc Albrighton's sliding tackle from behind, but the referee waved away appeals for a chance to add extra gloss on an impressive away performance.
Bakary Sako eventually provided it - tucking away Ruben Loftus-Cheek's pass across goal to round off a 94th-minute counter-attack.
The Foxes, who so impressively dismantled Puel's former club Southampton in midweek, remain eighth in the table, while Palace rise four places to 14th - though the teams below them are yet to play this weekend.
Post A Comment:
0 comments so far,add yours