Report & Reaction: Brilliant Eze inspires Palace at Southampton

Summary:

• Palace unchanged from thumping win at Leeds
• Eagles begin brightly with Doucouré volleying over
• Aribo misses set-piece opportunity early for the hosts
• Olise runs through and scores, but is flagged offside
• Hosts grow into the game but Palace defend stoutly
• Clear opportunities lacking in stop-start first-half
• HT: Southampton 0-0 Palace
• Eze pounces from close range to put Palace ahead after half-time
• No. 10 then smashes in a low effort from range to double the lead
• Alcaraz curls onto the post as Southampton looked to respond immediately
• Johnstone forced into flying save from Bella-Kotchap long-ranger
• Ayew fires narrowly over from Olise pass
• Olise clips the post with injury-time free-kick as Palace see out their win
• FT: Southampton 0-2 Palace

Recent weeks have seen the sun shine once more on Palace’s results, with back-to-back wins and outstanding performances under the returning Roy Hodgson – and a warm day at St Mary’s Stadium started brightly on the field as well.

An unchanged starting XI began with the confidence they left on the Elland Road pitch, Jordan Ayew’s cross deflecting kindly for Cheick Doucouré, who half-volleyed over from the edge of the box.

But as Hodgson had warned in his pre-match press conference, bottom-of-the-table Southampton also had plenty to play for, and ought to have gone ahead moments later when Joe Aribo skied a simple finish to a clever set-piece routine.

Just as they had done to Leeds United, Palace’s quick transitions were troubling the hosts at St Mary’s, with Michael Olise only narrowly mistiming his run in behind and – despite finishing coolly from Ayew’s clipped pass – was flagged offside.

Southampton grew into the half as it wore on; Joachim Andersen and Joel Ward made particularly important blocks, and Theo Walcott smashed a rising effort wide of the mark after bursting clean through.

But clear chances were at a premium in a bitty first-half where defences came out on top.

Into the second-half, and Palace once again made a bright start to proceedings, one solo run from Ebere Eze concerning Romeo Lavia so much the Saints midfielder hauled him down and took the booking.

It was a warning sign of things to come. Moments later, Eze played a fine cross-field pass to Ayew and continued his run into the box.

Such forward-thinking meant he was in the right place at the right time to tap home when Bazunu palmed, rather poorly, the ball into his path – and Palace led on the road once again.

If his first goal had a touch of fortune about it, Eze’s second, ten minutes later, had none of the sort – it was simply individual brilliance.

Little seemed on when the No. 10 controlled Doucouré's pass, back to goal, 30 yards from the net. Eze disagreed, turning and twisting between two defenders, and firing a low rocket into the bottom-left corner to send the visiting fans sprawling to celebrate.

The match had burst into life, and Southampton almost produced an immediate response when Alcaraz’s clever out-swinging strike struck the inside of the post – but thankfully bounced away.

The same player then came close with an instinctive volley inside the box, moments before Bella-Kotchap’s 30-yard long-ranger forced Sam Johnstone into a flying save – but Palace’s clean sheet remained intact.

The Eagles enjoyed further chances to make it three, with the otherwise-outstanding Ayew firing over from a promising position and Eze, Olise, Hughes and Schlupp also all driving forward to good effect.

“He’s one of our own – one Roy Hodgson!” cheered the visiting fans towards the final whistle, the manager’s side diligently defending their two-goal lead without too much cause for concern from then on.

There was even time for Palace to go close once more, with Olise winning – and then taking – a 25-yard free-kick which bent round the wall and past Gavin Bazunu in the hosts’ goal, but also off the outside of the post.

As the sun set on St Mary’s, and with it the hosts’ chances of getting back into the game, the Eze-inspired Palace, with three Premier League wins on the spin, could revel in the fact that their season only continues to hot up.

Palace: Johnstone (GK), Ward, Andersen, Guéhi (Tomkins, 90+2), Mitchell, Doucouré (Milivojevic, 85), Schlupp (Lokonga, 85), Eze, Ayew (Mateta, 90+2), Edouard (Hughes, 74), Olise

Subs: Goodman (GK), Richards, Riedewald, McArthur

Southampton: Bazunu (GK), Walker-Peters, Bella-Kotchap, Bednarek, Maitland-Niles, Lavia, Ward-Prowse, Walcott (Djenepo, 62), Sulemana (Armstrong, 80), Aribo (Onuachu, 62), Alcaraz (Edozie, 80)

Subs: McCarthy (GK), Caleta-Car, Perraud, Mara, Armstrong, Edozie, Elyounoussi

Hodgson on playing to Palace's strengths

18:15

After a slow start at St Mary’s, the Eagles – inspired by Ebere Eze’s double – pulled away from their hosts in the second-half, managing the game well to see out a third win on the trot.

Hodgson reflected in his post-match press conference: “I enjoyed the second-half, where I think we played better.

“Southampton were very good in the first-half. They were all the things I would expect a team fighting for their lives near the bottom of the league, in a home game [to be]. They played with a lot of energy, intensity and runs in behind us, and they stretched our defensive capacity to the hilt.

“Luckily, we got through that, largely thanks to a back four did a really, really good job under that sort of pressure. In the second-half we tweaked one or two things, and were able to get back to the sort of football I was hoping to see for the whole 90 minutes. It turned out to be enough because of Eze’s two goals.

“At half-time, all we can do is remind people of a few things we agreed to do from the start, but hadn’t got round to doing yet. That’s all we can do. Goals change games, and Eze’s two goals put us in such a commanding position.

“When you get in a commanding position, and you’re the team that doesn’t have the knife at your throat, you’re capable of playing the sort of football that we did, and we did have a few opportunities to score one or two more goals.”

Eze: I'm just happy to be contributing!

17:25

Eberechi Eze gave a typically humble response when quizzed about his star turn in Crystal Palace’s 2-0 win over Southampton.

A tight first-half at St Mary’s Stadium saw few chances produced by either side, but the game was sparked into life in the second period by an Eze brace, capping an impressive team performance all-round.

The playmaker started and finished the first goal, before a moment of inspiration saw him rocket Palace into an unassailable 2-0 lead soon after.

Having matched his personal-best tally of a combined 10 goals and assists in the Premier League (seven goals, three assists), Eze smiled: “As long as I’m affecting the game, scoring goals, it doesn’t matter how it goes in, to be honest!

“I’m just happy to be contributing, helping the team and doing what I can to influence the game, because it’s been a tough period. To come out of it the way that we have is big for us.

“I’ll keep on doing what I can, keep on working hard, applying myself, and whatever happens, happens.

“That was a big game for us. We wanted to come here and win. We’ve been putting in good performances, working hard and it’s paid off today, so it’s a big one for us.”

Just as it did in the 5-1 win at Elland Road a week ago, Palace’s performance picked up notably in the second-half, with Eze admitting: “I think [in the first-half] they [Southampton] were faster, they were sharper, and we weren’t getting onto the second balls as well as we have been.

“We knew what we had to do, we knew that the energy would come, and it’s paid off.

“I think he [Roy Hodgson] has just given us the confidence in what we’re good at. We know what we can do. We know what we’re capable of, and he’s given us the licence to go and do that.

“We’re playing with a lot more freedom, more energy, and we’re so much more positive, which is a huge credit to the gaffer coming in and helping us with that.”

As for the seven games of the season remaining, Eze added: “We’re looking at it game by game. We want to keep on winning and getting points.

“There’s no reason why we can’t putting in performances like that, and if we do, we’re going to get results. That’s the aim for sure.”

Full-time

90+5 mins

St Mary's Stadium is emptying rapidly - this one's done and dusted.

There goes the final whistle!

Off the post - Olise!

90+4 mins

It's Olise who takes it... round the wall, past Bazunu, but off the outside of the post!

That would have been the cherry on the icing on the cake.

90+2 mins

Yellow card for Bella-Kotchap, who drags down Olise after being beaten. Free-kick, 25 yards out.

Two more changes for Palace: Ayew and Guehi off, Mateta and Tomkins on.

90 mins

Five added minutes to be played.

Double Palace change

85 mins

Two changes in midfield: Schlupp and Doucouré come off, and on come Lokonga and Milivojevic.

Chance - Ayew!

82 mins

Ayew feels he should have made it three.

The No. 9 is perfectly teed up by Olise after the ball was left by Schlupp, but the forward fires over with the majority of the net gaping.

He's had an exceptional game otherwise.

80 mins

Two more changes for the hosts: Edozie and Armstrong are on for Sulemana and Alcaraz.

Save from Johnstone!

76 mins

It's a brilliant flying save from the 'keeper, as Bella-Kotchap lines one up from 30 yards, and the Palace 'keeper dives high to his top-right corner and palms the effort away.

Important to ride this period of the game out, you sense.

Palace substitution

74 mins

Off comes Edouard, to be replaced by Will Hughes.

Off the post - Alcaraz

72 mins

Crikey.

It's a cracking effort from Alcaraz, a touch and curling finish which is bending away from the keeper and smashes the inside of the post, before bouncing away.

Seconds later, the same player swivels onto a loose ball from close range and fires over.

Unlucky not to score in the first instance, probably should have scored in the second.

EZE AGAINNNNNNNNN!

68 mins

What a goal this is!

A player in the form of his career.

Nothing seems on when the No. 10 controls Doucouré's pass, 30 yards from goal. But I'm so wrong in writing that sentence, because Eze twists between two defenders, and fires a low rocket right into the bottom corner.

It's utter genius.

Ohhhh - close!

67 mins

It's nearly two! For some reason, Bednarek lets a ball run out of play, but Ward doesn't give up on it and prods goalwards... Bazunu turns away, but it almost squirmed in.

Double change for Southampton

62 mins

Walcott comes off, Moussa Djenepo is on; and Aribo is off, the towering Paul Onuachu is on up front.

57 mins

A rich reward for a bright start to the second-half for Palace, and Eze in particular.

That's his third goal involvement in his last three games - as the away fans now sing, the man is well and truly on fire!

GOAL - EBERECHI EZE!

54 mins

Get in there - Palace have the lead!

It all starts with a fine raking cross-field pass from Eze, who then follows it into the box.

Ayew takes it down, beats Maitland-Niles on the outside and smashes it across goal, where Bazunu paws it down into Eze's path for a simple finish.

Our first shot on target today - and our first goal!

What a run from Eze

52 mins

The No. 10 carries the ball all the way from his own half to 30 or so yards from the Saints' goal, drawing a pull from a panicking Lavia - who is booked.

From the free-kick, Eze goes with the laces - but it's a wild one, admittedly.

50 mins

Set-piece about 10 yards in for Southampton from the corner flag, as Doucouré is judged to have fouled Aribo.

Guess who's standing over it... it's fierce and flat towards the near post, and Mitchell adjusts superbly to dive in and clear with his head.

The second-half resumes

46 mins

Southampton get us underway again.

16:02

We're about to get underway again - no changes at half-time.

Half-time

15:46

The referee sounds his whistle for half-time.

Yet to spark into life, this one, it must be said.

Enjoy the best of the images from the first-half below!

45 mins

One minute of additional time to be played.

Yellow card

43 mins

Andersen is the first player booked today, judged to have hauled down Aribo.

41 mins

Two corners in quick succession for Southampton; Eze deals with the first by tackling Sulemana, and the second requires Doucouré to intervene as Bednarek looked to scramble home inside the box.

It's a third corner in quick succession which Sulemana will take... and there's Edouard back helping defensively, taking it off the toe of Walcott who'd been played in by Walker-Peters.

Palace break through Ayew, who holds it up well on his own, bringing the Saints' latest wave of pressure to an end.

38 mins

Another quiet spell in a game which, in all honesty, has ebbed and flowed so far at St Mary's.

"One for the purists" would perhaps be the summary so far!

Plenty of time for it to change, however, as Andersen does well to stab away a fizzing ball across the box from Alcaraz.

32 mins

A spell on the ball for the Eagles just outside the Southampton box. The hosts have plenty of men behind it, and there's barely space to get a shot in, but we hold onto the ball for a solid two or three minutes with Ayew, Schlupp and Eze all heavily involved.

We're beginning to assert ourselves on the game again, you sense.

28 mins

Better from Palace, as Andersen fires a low ball forwards which is flicked onto Ayew by a lovely touch from Edouard.

The No. 9 is held up successfully by Maitland-Niles and the move eventually breaks down, but that quick transition forwards - which worked wonders at Elland Road - could be key again to us exploiting the gaps Southampton are leaving with their offensive look.

Close from Walcott

23 mins

The hosts are admittedly starting to turn the screw.

This time, it's Sulemana with a first-time ball forwards for Walcott, who's sprinting clean through and has time and space with which to shoot...

Thankfully, he smashes a rising finish just wide of the top corner, and into the side-netting. A let-off.

20 mins

Great defending, Joel Ward.

Walker-Peters whips in an early cross from deep and Aribo is sprinting onto it at the back post... but our No. 2 does just enough to put him off and block the header.

It takes a couple of tries to clear the corner... and ends with Bednarek firing an ambitious looping volley goalwards, but it's a simple catch in the end for Johnstone.

As we did last week, we're having to ride a bit of an early storm on the road, albeit not at the same intensity.

18 mins

Southampton threaten again. It's a clever give-and-go involving Sulemana and Walker-Peters on the left flank, the former racing onto the return on the edge of the box.

The effort is scuffed at Andersen, who does well - along with Olise - to scramble it clear.

Both teams in this one, it must be said.

14 mins

Goa- no! Offside!

This one's not going to count. Olise runs well clear in behind, is found by a chipped pass by Ayew, and rounds Bazunu before slotting into the empty net.

Up goes the flag, and replays show that our No. 7 was unfortunately indeed offside.

13 mins

Southampton should have scored.

The corner is a clever one: Ward-Prowse low into the near post, flicked towards the penalty spot I believe by Maitland-Niles, and Aribo has time to run onto it and... sky his finish.

Poor technique, but a warning sign for Palace.

10 mins

After a bright start from both sides, something of a lull in the game.

When Southampton have gone forwards, it's Theo Walcott's pace they've been trying to exploit, but Tyrick Mitchell has tracked his man well thus far.

The hosts win a free-kick 40 yards out... surely too far, even, for James Ward-Prowse... he goes short and Aribo eventually wins a corner off Ward.

3 mins

... but the first shot on target is Southampton's.

In fairness, it's a soft one - straight at Johnstone from Alcaraz, who had been slipped down the channel by Walcott. An almost impossible angle to score from.

2 mins

The first shot goes Palace's way!

Ayew sprints onto a ball which appeared to be drifting out of play, sees his cross deflect off Walker-Peters... Bella-Kotchap heads away, but only as far as Doucouré, whose side-footed half-volley flies over the bar!

A bright start!

Kick-off

1 min

Here we go - Olise gets us underway!

COME ON PALACE!

14:58

A final reminder of the teams ahead of kick-off...

Palace: Johnstone (GK), Ward, Andersen, Guéhi, Mitchell, Doucouré, Schlupp, Eze, Ayew, Edouard, Olise

Subs: Goodman (GK), Tomkins, Richards, Riedewald, Hughes, Milivojevic, McArthur, Lokonga, Mateta

Southampton: Bazunu (GK), Walker-Peters, Bella-Kotchap, Bednarek, Maitland-Niles, Lavia, Ward-Prowse, Walcott, Sulemana, Aribo, Alcaraz

Subs: McCarthy (GK), Caleta-Car, Perraud, Mara, Armstrong, Djenepo, Edozie, Elyounoussi, Onuachu

14:55

'Oh when the Saints go marching in' is getting drowned out by 'Eagles! Eagles' over to my right-hand side. And the home team have the presence of a brass band in their favour...

Another superb away backing, which Palace players show their appreciation to as they take their positions for the start of the game.

14:50

The sun is just about poking through the clouds, and kick-off is moments away as St Mary's starts to fill up...

Another big day in Palace's season - and how well the lads have responded to them so far. Let's have another!

Away days

14:40

When Jordan Ayew smashed home at Elland Road to increase Crystal Palace’s lead, the Eagles had equalled their biggest-ever away win of the Premier League era.

Hodgson had masterminded another 5-1 win on the road, matching the victory over West Bromwich Albion in December, 2020 – but throughout the club’s history there have been even greater trips.

Find out when here!

14:30

Time to head back into the memory banks...

David Hopkin’s iconic 1996/97 play-off final winner sparked a promotion party, a return to the Premier League and remains one of the greatest goals in Crystal Palace’s history – but it had a longer-lasting legacy on Dan Cook.

Earlier this week, on the 21st anniversary of Hopkin's last appearance for the club (13th April, 2002), the man better known by his online pseudonym 'HLTCO' spoke to us about passion, anonymity, disability and his next big project: inspiring the next generation.

Read the interview here.

Edouard speaks to the media ahead of kick-off...

14:20

“We are confident as a team, but today we have another game. We have to reset from the last game and we have to win today.

“The mentality [has changed]. We’re more offensive now. We’re more confident as a team because we’ve won games, and we need to keep on like this.

“We’ve had more space and more time on the ball, so it’s been easier for us to attack.”

14:10

Crystal Palace supporters can treat themselves to a selection of exceptional experiences over the coming months.

From sporting dinners with Jeff Stelling to golfing days with club legends like John Salako and Andy Johnson - find out more here!

The teams are in

14:00

The Palace manager has kept faith with the same starting XI which put Leeds United to the sword at Elland Road last weekend, producing a handsome 5-1 victory.

The only changes to the Eagles' matchday squad are on the bench: goalkeeper Owen Goodman replaces Joe Whitworth, and the returning Chris Richards comes in for the injured Nathaniel Clyne.

With no swaps to the starting line-up, Sam Johnstone – who performed so impressively on his Premier League bow for the club at Leeds – makes his second consecutive start in goal.

He will be protected by an anticipated back four of Joel Ward, Joachim Andersen, Marc Guéhi and Tyrick Mitchell, with midfielders Chiekh Doucouré and Jeffrey Schlupp ahead of them.

Providing the attacking threat will be last week’s goalscorers Eberechi Eze, Jordan Ayew and Odsonne Edouard – who also scored the winner in the reverse fixture with Southampton in October – as well as the Eagles’ chief creator at Elland Road, Michael Olise, who recorded three assists on Easter Sunday.

Palace: Johnstone (GK), Ward, Andersen, Guéhi, Mitchell, Doucouré, Schlupp, Eze, Ayew, Edouard, Olise

Subs: Goodman (GK), Tomkins, Richards, Riedewald, Hughes, Milivojevic, McArthur, Lokonga, Mateta

Southampton: Bazunu (GK), Walker-Peters, Bella-Kotchap, Bednarek, Maitland-Niles, Lavia, Ward-Prowse, Walcott, Sulemana, Aribo, Alcaraz

Subs: McCarthy (GK), Caleta-Car, Perraud, Mara, Armstrong, Djenepo, Edozie, Elyounoussi, Onuachu

13:55

Team news is just moments away...

13:45

Time for the big questions...

13:40

One for the virtual managers among you!

Only eight Premier League games remain in Crystal Palace’s 22/23 season. And for FPL managers, that translates to just eight Gameweeks left from which to wring out every point possible from your squad selections.

With Palace’s attacking outlets thriving in their last two games – check out our statistical summaries of wins over Leicester City and Leeds United for further evidence – it is little wonder that many FPL managers are casting glances towards the Eagles' players.

While the old adage rings true that no Premier League game is an easy one - particularly in this tightest of seasons - FPL's algorithms suggest a favourable run-in.

Seven of Palace’s last eight games are ranked two out of five in the Fixture Difficulty Ratings, which are defined by the Premier League as “a set of formulas [which] process key Opta data variables… to generate a rank for the perceived difficulty” of a game.

What’s more, no other Premier League side has had more shots, shots on target or shots inside the box in their last two matches – suggesting it is certainly a wise time to add Palace’s attacking weapons to your FPL arsenal.

Find out which Palace players to pick here.

Back the Eagles

13:30

Today’s match at St Mary’s Stadium marks the second of Palace’s four professional fixtures this weekend.

The weekend actually kicked off at midday at the Crystal Palace Academy, with Rob Quinn's U18s hoping to maintain their recent fine form against bottom club Norwich City in U18 Premier League South.

That one is into its closing stages, with Franco Umeh having put the young Eagles ahead late on - Palace lead 3-2! Find out how to watch it LIVE on Palace TV+ here.

Our U21s are in action against West Ham U21s on Monday afternoon (13:00 BST kick-off) – a match you can also watch LIVE on Palace TV+.

But before then, Palace Women return to Hayes Lane this Sunday afternoon (14:00 kick-off) to take on Birmingham City.

Another special occasion awaits attendees at Hayes Lane this Sunday with free entertainment, face paint, posters and more, as tickets remain available to purchase from just £5* for Season Ticket holders and Members, and Under-16s go free.

Coral Haines told cpfc.co.uk: “The loyal Crystal Palace fans, who are in there week-in, week-out, drive us on, and it helps us give that extra bit when we can hear them every game.

“That so many came out last home game… it was just incredible to hear them singing from start to finish. It was like having a 12th player out there when we were playing, so any support is really valued by the team. We love having people back us at the game.”

Past meetings

13:20

The two sides have met twice this season – both in south London – with Palace losing in the FA Cup, but winning the Premier League meeting in October thanks to Odsonne Edouard’s neat finish.

There was last-minute drama the last time Palace travelled to the south coast, with Ebere Eze’s second-half equaliser followed up by Wilfried Zaha’s 92nd-minute winner.

Overall, Palace have won 42 of the team's 116 meetings, with the Saints narrowly ahead on 49 victories.

13:10

Today's match will not be broadcast live on television in the UK – but fear not, as subscribers to Palace TV+ will be able to tune in to LIVE audio commentary of the fixture, on web and on the official Palace app. Click HERE to subscribe.

Otherwise, you can follow the game via this live blog and our Match Centre, where as well as a range of stats and facts, you can also find every piece of build-up to the game you could possibly need.

Then, one hour before kick-off (14:00 BST), attention will turn to team news across all our web, app and social (Twitter and Instagram) channels.

And every club channel will fill with content post-match, right from the final whistle. Stay tuned!

Find out more about how to follow today's game.

Welcome to St Mary's Stadium!

13:00

Good afternoon Palace fans, and welcome to St Mary's Stadium for this afternoon's Premier League match-up between the Eagles and Southampton!

After a difficult start to the year, Palace will be looking to build on two simply outstanding performances against Leicester and Leeds, and make it three top-flight league wins in a row against the competition's bottom-of-the-table side today.

But as manager Roy Hodgson so aptly said at his pre-match press conference: “When it's gone so well for you, one is entitled to allow oneself and the players a little bit of joy in their life, and the feeling of not only satisfaction, but even pride in what they’ve done.

“Nobody here, working at Palace, is being carried away by the result. It was a good result after a good performance, and that’s the ideal scenario as a manager – but we know that this is a new day, and everything starts from scratch."

Confident, but grounded. Energetic, but determined. Let's keep channeling this feeling in the right ways.

Kick-off is at 15:00 BST, with teams announced at 14:00 and all the build-up you could possibly need on this page beforehand.

Come on Palace!