Southampton v Crystal Palace Live Commentary & Result, 15/04/2023, Premier League

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	PTS	Form
1	MCI Manchester City	38	28	5	5	94	33	+61	89	L D W W W
2	ARS Arsenal	38	26	6	6	88	43	+45	84	W L L W W
3	MUN Manchester United	38	23	6	9	58	43	+15	75	W W W W L
4	NEW Newcastle United	38	19	14	5	68	33	+35	71	D D W D L
5	LIV Liverpool	38	19	10	9	75	47	+28	67	D D W W W
6	BHA Brighton & Hove Albion	38	18	8	12	72	53	+19	62	L D W L W
7	AVL Aston Villa	38	18	7	13	51	46	+5	61	W D W L L
8	TOT Tottenham Hotspur	38	18	6	14	70	63	+7	60	W L L W L
9	BRE Brentford	38	15	14	9	58	46	+12	59	W W W L W
10	FUL Fulham	38	15	7	16	55	53	+2	52	L D W W L
11	CRY Crystal Palace	38	11	12	15	40	49	-9	45	D D W L W
12	CHE Chelsea	38	11	11	16	38	47	-9	44	D L L D W
13	WOL Wolverhampton Wanderers	38	11	8	19	31	58	-27	41	L D L W L
14	WHU West Ham United	38	11	7	20	42	55	-13	40	L W L W L
15	BOU AFC Bournemouth	38	11	6	21	37	71	-34	39	L L L L W
16	NFO Nottingham Forest	38	9	11	18	38	68	-30	38	D W D W L
17	EVE Everton	38	8	12	18	34	57	-23	36	W D L W D
18	LEI Leicester City	38	9	7	22	51	68	-17	34	W D L L D
19	LEE Leeds United	38	7	10	21	48	78	-30	31	L L D L L
20	SOU Southampton	38	6	7	25	36	73	-37	25	D L L L L

That's all from St Mary's today, so thank you for joining us and goodbye!

Crystal Palace could effectively seal their place on next term's Premier League starting grid with wins over fellow strugglers Everton and Wolves in their next two matches, while Southampton must steel themselves to visit leaders Arsenal next time out.

Leaving Southampton rooted to the foot of the table, Crystal Palace secure a third straight win to pull themselves further clear of the Premier League drop zone. Despite a dismal first half, the Eagles soared into life after the break, as Olise and Eze tore into a startled Saints defence - the latter bagging himself a brace. Palace have won all of their games since Roy Hodgson’s return to the club and will now expect to secure safety; their hosts lose a 10th home game of the season and appear doomed to the drop.

90' + 6' FULL-TIME: SOUTHAMPTON 0-2 CRYSTAL PALACE

90' + 3' OFF THE POST! Olise steps up, and with a typically languid, dipping free-kick from the right, he clips the outside of the left-hand post! Bazunu was well beaten, but Saints survive!

J. Tomkins

M. Guéhi

90' + 3' Tomkins is offered a brief run out, replacing Guehi at the back for Crystal Palace.

J. Mateta

J. Ayew

90' + 3' In the third minute of five indicated for stoppage time, Ayew comes off to warm applause from the away fans; Mateta replaces him.

A. Bella-Kotchap

Yellow Card

90' + 2' Bella-Kotchap is the latest Southampton player to have his name taken by the referee, as he is penalised for pulling back Olise just outside his own area.

J. Bednarek

Yellow Card

90' Frustrated by his inability to win the ball off Ayew in midfield, Bednarek resorts to barging over his opponent. When play next comes to a halt, the referee strolls over and books the Saints centre-back.

87' Palace twice try to break through in search of a third goal, but Eze just fails to take a one-two into his stride near the penalty spot and Ward then finds his way blocked when unloading a low drive.

L. Milivojević

C. Doucouré

85' Milivojevic is also introduced by Hodgson, as Doucoure's energetic shift ends early.

A. Lokonga

J. Schlupp

85' Now tiring, Schlupp is swapped out for Sambi Lokonga in the Crystal Palace midfield.

83' Another stoppage in play breaks up the game's momentum, as Guehi goes down injured. There could be plenty of added time at the end of this match.

81' MISS! With the goal at his mercy, Ayew leans back and sends a 12-yard shot spiralling over the crossbar following Olise's cutback! That would've sealed it for Palace!

S. Armstrong

K. Sulemana

80' Having been quiet during the second half, Sulemana is also withdrawn; Armstrong is sent on in his place.

S. Edozie

C. Alcaraz

80' Edozie replaces Alcaraz, who has come closer than anyone else to scoring for Southampton today.

79' Walker-Peters has gone down injured, and Selles is already preparing more replacements on the sideline. Can anyone come on and make themselves a Saints hero, or is it too late for the south coast side?

77' Johnstone completes a more straightforward stop this time, as Onuachu beats Guehi to a header from the centre of the box but it lacks sufficient power to trouble the goalkeeper.

76' SAVE! After several Southampton players deliberate on the ball and fail to take a strike, Bella-Kotchap strides forward and leathers a powerful shot towards the left-hand side of the goal, but Johnstone dives to parry it away! Saints are getting ever closer, but time is running out!

W. Hughes

O. Édouard

74' Hodgson clearly wants to shut up shop, as Edouard is replaced by another midfielder, Hughes, for the final stages of the game.

73' MISS! Having won the ball in an aerial battle on the edge of Palace's six-yard box, it drops into his path for a close-range volley, but Alcaraz blazes over the crossbar and puts his head in his hands!

72' OFF THE POST! Taking the ball in his stride from Djenepo's pass, Alcaraz arrows a shot across goal which thumps off the upright and away to safety! So close for the young forward, who has offered Southampton's main threat today!

70' Eze has now netted three times in five appearances against Southampton, and his second goal today is his seventh of the season, making him Crystal Palace's Premier League top scorer.

C. Doucouré

Assist

68' After feeding the ball to goalscorer Eze midway through the Southampton half, Doucoure is credited with an assist.

E. Eze

Goal

68' EZE AT THE DOUBLE! Palace lead 2-0! From nothing, Eze decides to matters into his own hands, spinning on a sixpence to beat Djenepo's challenge before driving a perfectly placed shot into the bottom-left corner! Doucoure played the ball into him, but it was a superb solo effort for the midfield maverick's second goal of the game!

66' Having been treated on the touchline, Bella-Kotchap is cleared to return and he rejoins the game, which has just resumed.

64' After an aerial challenge brings him tumbling awkwardly to the turf, Bella-Kotchap is left in a crumpled heap and will require medical attention. As a result, the action is brought to a temporary halt.

P. Onuachu

J. Aribo

62' Onuachu is also offered a rare opportunity to impress, as Aribo comes off. That will offer Saints a more physical presence up front, should they go more direct in search of an equaliser.

M. Djenepo

T. Walcott

62' Ruben Selles moves first, making a double substitution. First, Walcott makes way for Djenepo.

60' Lavia tracks back to make a vital block on Schlupp's strike from 20 yards out, after the Crystal Palace midfielder thunders through and lines up a low shot.

58' Another Palace counter-attack sees Olise surge to the edge of the area and play in Doucoure, whose return ball is heavily overhit and is deflected behind for a corner.

56' Southampton have failed to win any of their last seven Premier League matches when conceding the opening goal - a run dating back to mid-January. Can they now fight back and end that streak?

E. Eze

Goal

54' PALACE TAKE THE LEAD! Capping a sharper start to the second half, the visitors go in front! Eze is on hand to volley home a deflected shot from near the penalty spot, after Ayew clips the ball back from the left! It's 1-0 to Crystal Palace, who continue to claw their way towards safety!

53' Rather than loading the ball into a packed penalty area, Eze elects to shoot from a 20-yard free-kick, but then drives an awful effort both wide and well over the crossbar - not his finest moment!

R. Lavia

Yellow Card

52' With Eze charging clear down the centre, Lavia opts to tug his opponent back and concede a free-kick; he's also shown a yellow card for his troubles.

50' Walker-Peters earns Southampton a free-kick near the left corner flag, having lured Doucoure into a heavy challenge. From Ward-Prowse's whipped delivery, Guehi heads the ball away at the near post.

47' After Olise draws Walker-Peters into a challenge on the right byline, Crystal Palace have an early corner-kick. However, the set-piece opportunity ultimately comes to nothing.

46' Southampton kick off the second half, and we are back under way at St Mary's!

The half-time scoreline should really come as no surprise: Crystal Palace have now failed to score a first-half goal in 22 of their 31 Premier League fixtures this season; only Southampton (23) have done so more often.

While Southampton have enjoyed more of the ball and restricted Crystal Palace to only two shots at goal so far, it has been an almost event-free first half at St Mary's. The hosts have been brighter on the ball than their visitors from the capital, but neither side has offered a substantial attacking threat. As Saints' need for the points is arguably greater, will they push harder to break through after the interval? Surely Palace can improve on such an insipid display too.

45' + 2' HALF-TIME: SOUTHAMPTON 0-0 CRYSTAL PALACE

45' Olise steals the ball from Aribo in midfield, sparking a chance to make a rare foray into the Southampton box, but once again Palace's final ball lacks accuracy and is cleared away.

J. Andersen

Yellow Card

43' Having hauled over Aribo by the arm, Andersen becomes the first player booked today.

42' Successive corners apply pressure on the Palace goal, but the latest sees an elaborate multi-pass routine fizzle out without the ball arriving in the visitors' area.

40' A low cross by Alcaraz from the right puts Andersen in trouble on the edge of his six-yard box, and the Danish defender has to hack the ball over for a corner-kick.

38' After enjoying a rare sustained spell of possession, Palace finally lose the ball deep in Southampton's half when Mitchell catches the boot of Walcott with his studs and a free-kick is awarded to Saints.

36' Guehi does well to twice nod the ball away from the lurking Walcott on the edge of his own area, after Southampton try to find their experienced forward with a direct ball from deep.

34' Palace have been able to shift a few yards further upfield over the past couple of minutes, but both Hodgson and his trusted assistant Ray Lewington still seem discontented on the sidelines.

32' As they've started to assert themselves, Southampton have attempted the last seven shots in this first half; Crystal Palace's last attempt was by Doucoure during the second minute.

30' A long throw-in from the right by Bednarek briefly causes some consternation in the Crystal Palace area, but the visitors ultimately manage to clear their lines.

28' From the right touchline, Olise swings over a curling cross which sails too close to Bazunu, and it's a simple task for the Irish goalkeeper to pluck the ball out of the air inside his six-yard box.

26' As bright sunshine breaks out at St Mary's, and their team are getting on top, Southampton's fans are audibly energised. Palace are now banked inside their own half and soaking up pressure.

24' CLOSE! After being played in by Sulemana, the lively Walcott flashes a shot from the right side of the box into Johnstone's side-netting!

22' Southampton have won 59 per cent of their duels so far today and have also shaded the possession stats (52 to 48 per cent), and it is the hosts who are offering the most coherent football at the moment.

20' Following a corner, the ball drops into the path of Alcaraz on the right corner of the box, and his instinctive attempt to beat Johnstone with a looping shot drops safely into the goalkeeper's gloves.

19' The home side are taking the initiative now, and meeting Walcott's cross from out on the right, Sulemana turns a header from near the penalty spot over via a deflection. That's a corner for Southampton.

17' It's been an evenly contested first half so far, with neither side able to assert any dominance. Southampton have looked sharp enough until reaching the final third, where they've lacked a little composure.

15' Though Olise sprints through the centre to reach Ayew's dinked throughball before calmly slotting home past Bazunu, the assistant's flag is immediately raised to indicate offside against the Palace winger.

13' Ward-Prowse and Walcott combine with a smart short-corner routine, but when the ball is laid back for Aribo to shoot, he blazes it over the crossbar - much to his apparent frustration!

11' Rather clumsily, Schlupp concedes a free-kick for a foul on Alcaraz midway through the Crystal Palace half. Following the set-piece, Ward is forced to block the ball behind for a Saints corner.

9' An ambitious switch of play from right to left by Olise is just overhit and runs out of play near the corner flag, as Palace attempt to strike quickly on the counter.

7' Walcott is forced to turn back after picking up a direct ball into the box, then when it falls into the path of Lavia more than 20 yards out, the young midfielder lashes a powerful shot into a bunch of bodies.

5' Crystal Palace have never kept a clean sheet in 22 top-flight away games against Southampton to date, 14 of which were losses. Can they build on their promising start to life under Hodgson and finally do so today?

3' After Walcott slips through Alcaraz down the right side of the area, the latter decides to shoot early and drags a tame low shot straight at Johnstone in the Crystal Palace goal.

2' Following Bella-Kotchap's failure to fully clear the ball with a header, an early effort from Doucoure sails over the crossbar from 20 yards out.

1' At the second attempt, Crystal Palace kick off, and we are under way in Southampton!

The players are out on the pitch at St Mary's, and kick-off is now just moments away!

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Hodgson has named an unchanged starting XI, keeping faith with the side that thumped Leeds last weekend. Wilfried Zaha and Vicente Guaita remain on the sidelines due to injury, and Nathaniel Clyne now joins them - Richards replaces the latter on the Crystal Palace bench.

A first Premier League start of the year for Aribo is Southampton's sole change today, following the 4-1 loss to Manchester City last weekend; Elyounoussi drops to the bench. Lavia overcomes a hamstring problem to start, but Mohammed Salisu, Che Adams and Mislav Orsic are all ruled out by injury.

SUBS: Owen Goodman, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Chris Richards, Jairo Riedewald, Luka Milivojevic, Will Hughes, James McArthur, James Tomkins.

CRYSTAL PALACE (4-3-3): Sam Johnstone; Joel Ward, Marc Guehi, Joachim Andersen, Tyrick Mitchell; Eberechi Eze, Cheick Doucoure, Jeffrey Schlupp; Michael Olise, Odsonne Edouard, Jordan Ayew.

SUBS: Alex McCarthy, Romain Perraud, Moussa Djenepo, Sekou Mara, Samuel Edozie, Stuart Armstrong, Mohamed Elyounoussi, Paul Onuachu, Duje Caleta-Car.

SOUTHAMPTON (4-4-2): Gavin Bazunu; Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Jan Bednarek, Armel Bella-Kotchap, Kyle Walker-Peters; Theo Walcott, Romeo Lavia, James Ward-Prowse, Joe Aribo; Carlos Alcaraz, Kamaldeen Sulemana.

Crystal Palace swatted aside Leeds United last week in a stunning 5-1 away victory, as Roy Hodgson's return continues to bring spectacular results. Now pulling away from the basement battle, the Eagles occupy 12th place in the Premier League table and sit six points clear of the relegation zone. Today's visitors are unbeaten in their last three top-flight meetings with Southampton and are now aiming to record back-to-back wins at St Mary's for the very first time.

One of several teams embroiled in the Premier League relegation dogfight - along with today's opponents - Southampton start this weekend bottom of the table. Beaten 4-1 by Manchester City last time out, Saints suffered a third defeat from four matches to sit four points adrift of safety. Having already lost nine times at St Mary's in the league this season, Southampton will now aim to repeat the result when they last met Crystal Palace - a 2-1 success in January's FA Cup tie.

Hello and welcome to live coverage of today's Premier League clash between Southampton and Crystal Palace at St Mary's Stadium!

Southampton v Crystal Palace Live Commentary, 15/04/2023

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