Crystal Palace 2
Aston Villa 1
by Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
at Selhurst Park

CRYSTAL PALACE manager Alan Pardew hailed the attacking options at his disposal after his double substitution paid dividends in the Eagles’s 2-1 win over Aston Villa at Selhurst Park on Saturday afternoon.

Dwight Gayle and Jordon Mutch were introduced at the interval with the game goalless and immediately gave the hosts fresh impetus going forward, with the latter almost claiming an assist for James McArthur’s effort which was correctly disallowed for offside.

Speaking to the media after the match, the Palace manager said: “You need them, different scenario today as Dwight comes on and could have been a match winner and we have those lovely options that you need in the Premier League.”

Pardew also laid down a challenge for winger Wilfried Zaha, who has endured a mixed start to the season as he scored on the opening day against Norwich City but has since produced a below-par performance against Arsenal last weekend and was then hauled off at half-time on Saturday.

He had to watch on from the bench as summer signing Bakary Sako took centre stage by netting a late winner on his debut and Pardew admits Zaha faces a fight to retain his place in the team:

“Sako is going to put him under pressure, so will Yala (Bolasie) when he returns. It’s a real nice problem there, we’ve got nice options in wide areas.

“We’ve stepped up a level and he has to step up with us and needs to contribute with goals.

“He scored at Norwich, where I thought he was one of our best players, OK against Arsenal and not so good today.

“There will be other days for Wilf, I think he’s in a good place.”

Scott Dann gave the hosts the lead in the 71st minute with a thumping header before teammate Pape Souare turned into his own net and that looked to have given the away side a point until Sako produced an excellent finish with three minutes left to play.

Defeat in south London is now two on the spin for Villa and manager Tim Sherwood says youngster Jordan Amavi, whose costly mistake led to the concession of Palace’s winner, will be a better player for the experience.

“That’s what you will get with young players, unfortunately,” he said.