Matt Targett and John McGinn scored to keep up Steven Gerrard’s perfect start at Aston Villa as they ended Crystal Palace’s seven-game unbeaten run with a 2-1 victory at Selhurst Park.
Villa displayed their defensive solidity under their new manager again to follow up last weekend’s 2-0 win over Brighton, and did not concede a single shot on target until the final 10 minutes against an under-par Palace side.
They took advantage of the hosts’ dreadful record from set-pieces to take an early lead after 15 minutes, with Targett’s finish from Ashley Young’s delivery the eighth goal the Eagles have conceded from corners this season – a Premier League high.
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Ollie Watkins was denied what appeared a strong shout for a penalty shortly before half-time but there was better news from the officials for Villa in the second period, when Douglas Luiz was initially shown a red card by referee Michael Salisbury before reviewing his decision on the VAR monitor and rescinding the dismissal.
They had their new manager smiling again as McGinn’s wonderful first-time effort from 20 yards beat Vicente Guaita at his near post to wrap up victory, and, despite Marc Guehi’s injury-time consolation for the hosts, back-to-back wins have lifted Villa to 11th in the table, behind Palace only on goal difference.
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Villa show quality to earn rare away win
Palace came into the game looking to match their longest ever unbeaten Premier League run, but looked more like a team searching for form given the dominance of the visitors, who had lost five of their six games on the road this season.
But under Gerrard, Villa look a different beast already. They flew out of the traps and looked energetic from the first whistle, before taking full advantage of Palace’s Achilles’ Heel as Targett fired home his first Premier League goal for more than two years from Ashley Young’s corner.
Villa continued to look the more promising side despite a lack of goalmouth action at either end in an otherwise scrappy first half, which barely improved as a spectacle after the break.
John McGinn scored for Villa at Selhurst Park for the second season in a row
The new manager would have been more than happy with stifling Palace given the visitors’ wretched form on the road, an achievement which would have been tougher had Luiz’s red card, awarded within five minutes after coming on, not been rightly overturned by VAR.
Christian Benteke finally gave Emi Martinez some work to do with 10 minutes to go as his acrobatic effort stung the goalkeeper’s palms, before substitute Odsonne Edouard called the Argentine into action again from Conor Gallagher’s square ball.
With Palace enjoying their best spell of the game, Villa’s second goal from McGinn could not have come at a better time. Taking Anwar El Ghazi’s pass inside he bent a pinpoint effort inside Guaita’s near post before celebrating in front of the Palace fans in the Whitehorse Lane Stand.
The visitors gave themselves a slight blot on their copy book when Guehi stabbed home from close-range in the final minute of injury time for his second goal in as many games, but a huge three points, to lift them seven points above the relegation zone, were already wrapped up.
What’s next?
Crystal Palace are at Leeds on Tuesday night in the Premier League at 8.15pm, while Aston Villa host Man City on Wednesday at 8.15pm. Free highlights from both games will be available on the Sky Sports website, App and YouTube channel.
