Crystal Palace 1 Aston Villa 0 - Report and pictures
Jordan Ayew scored the only goal as ten-man Villa were condemned to a controversial defeat at Crystal Palace.
The Ghana international, who played for Villa during their 2015-16 relegation season, fired home the only goal of the game with 17 minutes remaining at Selhurst Park.
But the match ended in chaos after Villa thought they had equalised in the final minute of stoppage time, only for referee Kevin Friend to book Jack Grealish for diving.
Dean Smith’s men had been reduced to ten men earlier in the second half when winger Trezeguet was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Wilfried Zaha.
Analysis
The defeat was Villa’s third in their opening four Premier League matches but will be remembered solely for the final few seconds.
Grealish was heading toward the ground as he played a pass to Lansbury, who fired home in the sixth minute of stoppage time.
But Friend pulled play back and booked the Villa skipper for diving, with a VAR check confirming the referee’s decision.
That sparked angry scenes on the pitch and in the stands as visiting supporters vented their fury at the official.
Friend had already drawn their ire for a series of decisions which included the sending off of Trezeguet. The Egyptian international was one of four Villa players to be yellow carded during the first half and was shown a second when he felled Wilfried Zaha nine minutes into the second period.
Smith stuck with the same starting XI from the 2-0 win over Everton, Villa’s maiden victory of the campaign.
That match included a first goal for Wesley and the club’s record signing was quickly into the action at Selhurst Park, bringing two early if comfortable saves out of home keeper Vicente Guaita.
Douglas Luiz also curled a 25-yard free-kick over the bar as Villa made a bright start.
But Palace gradually began to exert themselves and should have led just past the 20-minute mark.
Frederic Guilbert’s attempted clearance fell straight to Jeffrey Schlupp and the wideman fizzed in a cross which James McArthur lifted over the bar from little more than six yards out.
The midfielder then almost turned provider with a cross of his own which flew just too far in front of a diving Jordan Ayew.
With Villa increasingly under the cosh, Guilbert made a vital intervention to prevent another McArthur cross finding Zaha at the far post.
Tom Heaton was then twice on hand to prevent Palace heading into the break with a lead.
The goalkeeper first dived low to his left to keep out Luka Milivojevic’s well-struck free-kick, before leaping high to push a Schlupp header over the bar.
Villa began the second half brightly and Trezeguet curled a free-kick wide of the target, while also sending a header straight at Guaita.
But the Egyptian international’s afternoon came to a premature conclusion just nine minutes after the restart when he blocked the run of Zaha and was shown a second yellow card by Friend.
Palace sensed blood and Heaton was forced into a flying save to keep out a long-range Milivojevic effort.
Mings blocked from Ayew, before the Palace forward curled a vicious long-range effort just off target.
Palace were primed to bring on Christian Benteke just as Ayew made the breakthrough, with 17 minutes remaining.
Villa were caught on the counter and Ayew latched onto Schlupp’s pass, before taking advantage of a helpful ricochet to make space and lash a finish beyond Heaton.
It was a fine goal worthy of winning any game but this is a clash which will be remembered for only the final few seconds.
Key Moments
54 RED CARD Villa winger Trezeguet is shown a second yellow card after bringing down Palace’s Wilfried Zaha.
73 GOAL Jordan Ayew breaks the deadlock, taking advantage of a helpful ricochet before lashing the ball beyond Tom Heaton.
Teams
Crystal Palace (4-4-2): Guaita, Ward, Kelly (Sakho 79), Cahhill, van Aanholt, Milivojevic, Kouyate, McArthur, Schlupp (Townsend 84), Zaha, Ayew (Benteke 86) Subs not used: Meyer, McCarthy, Camarasa, Hennessey (gk).
Villa (4-3-3): Heaton, Guilbert, Engels, Mings, Taylor, McGinn, Luiz (Hourihane 71), Grealish, Jota (Davis 59), Wesley (Lansbury 85), Trezeguet Subs not used: Konsa, Elmohamady, El Ghazi, Steer (gk).
