Southampton 0-2 Crystal Palace: Eze leads Crystal Palace to third consecutive win with brace against Southampton

Crystal Palace secured their third consecutive Premier League win with a 2-0 victory over Southampton, who remain rooted to the bottom of the table.

Eberechi Eze was the hero for Palace, scoring both goals to take his tally for the season to seven. Eze’s first came from a rebound after Jordan Ayew’s shot was parried by the home keeper, while his second was a precise finish into the bottom corner. Interim Palace boss Roy Hodgson praised Eze’s performance, stating that the team had told him to just “be Eberechi Eze”.

Missed opportunities haunt Southampton in crucial relegation battle

Southampton had chances in the first half but were unable to convert them into goals. Kamaldeen Sulemana headed over and missed a good chance, while Joe Aribo and Carlos Alcaraz also spurned opportunities. The Saints have now gone six games without a win and have lost 10 games at home this season. Interim boss Ruben Selles lamented the missed chances and admitted that it would be difficult for his team with only seven games left to play.

Crystal Palace, on the other hand, are now in 12th place and have all but secured their Premier League status for next season. The Eagles were off the pace in the first half but held firm defensively and produced a clinical performance in the second half. Hodgson praised his team’s ability to find Eze in dangerous positions and his ability to turn his defender and use his pace and strength to get away.

Palace’s impressive form continues as they climb up the table

The win was Palace’s third in a row and continues their impressive form under Hodgson. The team is now looking upwards, rather than over their shoulders, and will be hoping to finish the season on a high. For Southampton, the next few weeks will be crucial as they try to avoid relegation. The team will need to start converting their chances if they are to have any chance of survival.