Match Report: Crystal Palace 2-1 Aston Villa

Aston Villa committed football suicide in the closing stages at Selhurst Park, Brad Guzan and Jordan Amavi conspiring to hand Palace the winning goal.

Villa started the game in lively fashion. Rudy Gestede's hustle and bustle put the hosts on the back foot, but the best early opportunity fell to Gabby Agbonlahor. The inept Villa striker picked up Ashley Westwood's ball for a one-on-one with Alex McCarthy, but the goalkeeper easily came out on top.

It was one of many fluffed opportunities for Villa's longest serving player.

Villa's best first half performer, Carlos Sanchez, fashioned an opportunity to give the visitors the lead on 24 minutes. The Colombian international took the ball from from Jason Puncheon and eased past Yohan Cabaye to shoot but the chance flew over the bar.

The best chance for Palace came on 38 minutes, as Bakary Sako took a shot from 25 yards, but his shot waseasilt dealt with by Brad Guzan.

Pardew shuffled his pack at half time; Jordan Mutch and Dwight Gayle coming on to replace Wilfried Zaha and Glen Murrayand Palace were immediately far more effective.

Mutch played a lovely first-time cross to Sako to tap home in, but Micah Richards saw off the danger with a fine tackle.

There was confusion when it appeared the ref had given a Palace goal only for it to be chalked off. Dwight Gayle's curling effort wasdeflected home by a clearly offside McArthur. It was only ruled our after about a minute after the celebrations, giving Villa fans kittens.

Villa fans were crying out for change and were surprised to see the influential Sanchez withdrawn while Gabby was having such a mare. Adama was brought on for his first experience of Premier League football.

Bacuna

Almost immediately, Villa were behind, Scott Dann outjumping Ciaran Clark to power the home team into a lead they certainly deserved based on their second half performance.

Adama soon burst onto the Premier League scene,  ghosting past two players on the right flank to see his low cross is deflected home by the luckless Souare.

Then disaster for Villa. Brad Guzan inexplicably played the ball to Amavi in a vulnerable position. To compound the error, Amavi tried to run the ball out of defence, was caught by Dann who played the ball to Sako who drilled a left-footed into the corner of the net.