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| Yohan Cabaye's goal pushed Palace up to sixth after 16 matches |
DON’T cross Palace manager Alan Pardew.
He hammered one former club Newcastle in the previous home game and it was Southampton yesterday to suffer similar pain.
Pardew's vengeance trail was again helped by the brilliance of wing flyers Yannick Bolasie and Wilfried Zaha and a defence is fast becoming a mean machine.
He also needed a brilliant added time save from Shane Long to keep them in sixth place.
Saints had no answer to Bolaise’s pace and power and they virtually altered the side to try and dull his fire. No chance.
He was virtually unstoppable.
Are their two better wingmen in the Premier League than Bolaise and Zaha?
Palace went off the boil late as Saints made a late challenge, but with Bolasie and Zaha always a star turn, they manage to hold firm to remain a top six side.
Pardew was cruising well at both Saints and Newcastle, establishing a decent foothold before he was surprisingly allowed to leave - or in Saints’ case shown the door.
With assistant Wally Downes he was building a side and even lured Jose Fonte away from Palace.
New owners arrived, new brooms out and he moved on but his magic continues, albeit now at Palace.
Pardew recorded his 100 Premier League win beating Newcastle. Now make that 101.…and counting.
Palace went into the game hoping to build on their draw at Everton on Monday night, a week after they had beaten Newcastle 5-1 to record their biggest win in the Premier League.
Palace were as aggressive as Saints were sluggish. They chased the lost ball when their opponents had given up and reaped rewards.
Palace’s defence is not broken easily. They went into the game knowing only four other sides had conceded less goals.
They rely on pace, but knowing there is always back-up when Plan-A fails.
Southampton may have gone off the rails at times this season but they still stay faithful to a style that is often pleasing to the eye.
There is little long booting and the ball moves sweetly to foot. Sadly, they lack a killer edge and it’s why Graziano Pelle started on the bench until late and all faith was put on Shane Long to finish off promising moves.
Saints keeper Paulo Gazzangia came to their rescue twice in 60 seconds when he palmed over a fierce shot 20th minute shot from electric-heeled Yohan Cabaye and then got down low to block Connor Wickham’s header from the corner.
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| Cabaye, Zaha and Bolasie tormented the Saints all afternoon |
Saints, although not comfortable defending, had ability to swiftly break in Long had a striker not afraid to test his luck, as he did in the 26th minute, curling an 18-yard shot just wide of a post.
Then a magical back-heel from Sadoi Mane put Saints again on the front foot, his skill allowing Cedric Soares freedom to cross and Steve Davis’s powerful header denied a goal by Wayne Hennessey’s incredible 35th minute acrobatics to turn it away.
Yet you always felt Palace were in the driving seat. Saints defender Maya Yoshida wore a different number to the programme given out, and was out of place when palace took the lead.
He lost out in a scramble and the ball dropped to Wilfried Zaha who fed Bolasie to race to the by-line and whip over a 38th minute cross Cabaye, who had orchestrate the original move, to gratefully turn in.
Southampton eventually reverted back to 4-4-2 and eventually brought Pelle into the action to try and rescue the situation.
But it was still the Bolasie and Zaha show, although Connor Wickham almost got into the act with a fiercve late shot that Gazzangia dived full length to turn away for a corner.
Palace: Hennessey 8; Ward 7, Dann 7, Delaney 7, Souare 7; Cabaye 7, McArthur 7; Puncheon 6 (Mutch 85th)5), Arthur 7; Zaha 8, Bolasie 9; Wickham 7 (Chamakh 91st).
Soton: Gazzaniga 7; Cedric 7, Fonte 7, Van Dijk 6 (Ward-Prowse 79th)5, Bertrand 6; Wanyama 6, Davis 6 (Pelle 66th)5), Romeu 6; Mane 7, Yoshida 5 (Tadic 66th)5; Long 7.
Star Man: Palace winger Yannick Bolasie made their first goal and was virtually unstoppable throughout, forcing Saints to change tactics to try and dull his shine.
Referee: M Dean
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