Summary:

• Glasner makes one change, bringing in Hughes for Richards with Lerma moving into defence.
• Mateta has the first big chance, turning into space but denied by Neto.
• Billing fires wide from the edge of the penalty area.
• Henderson saves brilliantly from Billing’s close-range header.
• Kelly nods narrowly wide from just a few yards out.
• VAR denies Palace an opening goal after Eze slams home.
• HT: Bournemouth 0-0 Palace
• Henderson’s double-save from Kerkez and Solanke keeps the scores level.
• Kluivert smashes home from close-range to give Bournemouth the lead late on.
• Palace push for an equaliser but cannot break through.
• FT: Bournemouth 1-0 Palace

The moving forwards of the clocks usually signifies the end of the winter gloom, but you wouldn’t have known it on the south coast: the rain was torrential, the surface greasy and the early exchanges cagey.

As both sides settled into a rhythm, the chances began to come – predominantly for the visitors. Jean-Philippe Mateta – whose hold-up play was a real positive from the opening period – received the ball on the edge of the penalty area after Ebere Eze had won it back, and, turning away from pressure, stung the palms of Neto.

The Palace press was paying off, as Eze won it back once again and advanced on goal. This time he elected to go alone rather than square for Mateta, and Illia Zabarnyi got back to deny him an effort on goal.

At the other end, Philip Billing had Bournemouth’s first sight of goal as he drove wide from the edge of the penalty area, sparking the hosts into life. Soon Dean Henderson became the busier of the two goalkeepers, getting down well to save Billing’s long-range free-kick which bounced right in front of him.

From the resulting attack, Adam Smith picked out Billing just six yards out, whose thundering header was brilliantly palmed onto the crossbar by the Palace ‘keeper, before Lloyd Kelly nodded wide from just a few yards out.

Then, on the stroke of half-time, Palace led – at least, for a few moments. Mateta did well once again on the turn, feeding Jordan Ayew to cross for Eze to smash home from six-yards out.

The celebrations were cut short, however, by the dreaded VAR check, which ruled Mateta – who received the ball with his back to goal and wasn’t the provider of the assist, let alone the scorer – had been an inch offside in the build-up. No goal.

The second-half saw Palace come out positively, with Mateta and Eze continuing to combine in attack, but Neto was rarely called into action as the Bournemouth defence held firm.

Henderson had to be alert, diving bravely at the feet of Dominic Solanke after he attempted to turn home the rebound from substitute Milos Kerkez’ long-range effort.

With just over 10 minutes remaining, Bournemouth finally broke the deadlock. Andoni Iraola will have been pleased to see two substitutes combining, as Antoine Semenyo showed his strength to make progress down the right-hand side, pulling the ball back for Justin Kluivert who took one touch to steady himself and another to smash the ball home.

With the momentum behind them, Bournemouth searched for a second, passing with renewed confidence and winning corner after corner, which Palace frantically cleared. Oliver Glasner made a positive change, bringing on Odsonne Edouard to push forwards alongside Mateta, and the Eagles set about searching for an equaliser.

There were huge appeals for a penalty as Jeff Schlupp thought his legs were taken away from him just as he lined up to shoot, but after a check with VAR the referee stuck with his initial refusal to point to the spot. Moments later Eze was appealing for a spot-kick, but once again the referee was unmoved.

The final whistle meant disappointment on the road for Palace, who head back to Selhurst Park to take on champions Manchester City this weekend.