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Crystal Palace 2-2 Southampton: Jordan Ayew equaliser earns point for hosts

By Alex BysouthBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section Premier Leaguecomments133

James Ward-Prowse
James Ward-Prowse has scored five free-kicks in the league since the beginning of last season

Southampton saw their winless run in the Premier League stretch to six games despite two superb goals in an entertaining draw at Crystal Palace.

First James Ward-Prowse whipped a free-kick into the top corner and then Armando Broja drilled in from long range to send the visitors into the break with the lead.

Saints had fallen behind inside two minutes at Selhurst Park when Wilfried Zaha was allowed time to fire a low effort beyond Willy Caballero.

Palace could not build on that confident start, with Odsonne Edouard wasting a glorious chance to double the lead for Patrick Vieira's side.

But the forward, who set up Zaha for the opener, dragged an effort across goal in the second half and Jordan Ayew turned it in from a tight angle to earn the hosts a point.

Palace climb to 11th as a result, while Southampton remain 15th, six points above the relegation zone.

'Amazing' Ward-Prowse & Broja goals should have been enough - Hasenhuttl

Ralph Hasenhuttl must wonder what his side have to do to hang on to a lead, having now dropped a league-high 16 points from winning positions this season.

The answer lies with the Saints' defence, who have conceded 75 goals in the Premier League in 2021 - more than any other side - and are in danger of taking Ipswich Town's 27-year old record of 79 in a calendar year.

Palace, meanwhile, have two fewer points than they did under Roy Hodgson at this stage last season but there is a sense they have been unfortunate to not have more.

It was the perfect start for the buoyant hosts as Edouard roamed through the middle unchallenged, slid a pass into Zaha's path and he beat Caballero at his near post as Southampton backed off inside the box.

The Eagles' increased attacking intent has been notable since Vieira's arrival, especially at Selhurst Park, and they have now scored in eight successive Premier League home games for the first time, only failing to register in a goalless draw with Brentford in August.

Crystal Palace 2-2 Southampton: Patrick Vieira delighted for 'hard worker' Jordan Ayew

Edouard could have doubled their lead from Zaha's low cross but steered his effort wide and the game suddenly turned in Southampton's favour.

Palace goalkeeper Jack Butland, in for Vicente Guaita, could do nothing to stop Saints captain Ward-Prowse bending his free-kick over the wall and into the corner.

The midfielder has scored more direct free-kicks than any player in Europe's top five leagues in the past two seasons, though Palace's Will Hughes insisted he did not foul Broja.

It was Ward-Prowse's fifth in that timeframe and 11th overall in the Premier League, with only David Beckham (18), Thierry Henry (12) and Gianfranco Zola (12) scoring more in the competition.

There was no controversy moments later when Chelsea loanee Broja fired low into the corner from distance for his fourth goal in six starts after another Blues-owned player, Conor Gallagher, gave the ball away in midfield.

Vieira brought Christian Benteke on as Palace looked to get back into the game and the change paid off within a minute.

The substitute and Edouard caused confusion as the visitors failed to clear and Ayew finished for his first goal in 43 Premier League matches.

Player of the match

BrojaArmando Broja

with an average of 7.74

Crystal Palace

  1. Squad number7Player nameOlise
    Average rating

    6.46

  2. Squad number1Player nameButland
    Average rating

    6.41

  3. Squad number9Player nameJ Ayew
    Average rating

    6.39

  4. Squad number20Player nameBenteke
    Average rating

    6.32

  5. Squad number16Player nameAndersen
    Average rating

    6.29

  6. Squad number23Player nameGallagher
    Average rating

    6.29

  7. Squad number22Player nameÉdouard
    Average rating

    6.19

  8. Squad number12Player nameHughes
    Average rating

    6.13

  9. Squad number11Player nameZaha
    Average rating

    6.00

  10. Squad number6Player nameGuéhi
    Average rating

    5.91

  11. Squad number3Player nameMitchell
    Average rating

    5.89

  12. Squad number2Player nameWard
    Average rating

    5.88

  13. Squad number8Player nameKouyaté
    Average rating

    5.85

  14. Squad number5Player nameTomkins
    Average rating

    5.72

Southampton

  1. Squad number18Player nameBroja
    Average rating

    7.74

  2. Squad number8Player nameWard-Prowse
    Average rating

    7.48

  3. Squad number21Player nameLivramento
    Average rating

    6.94

  4. Squad number2Player nameWalker-Peters
    Average rating

    6.75

  5. Squad number23Player nameTella
    Average rating

    6.59

  6. Squad number11Player nameRedmond
    Average rating

    6.53

  7. Squad number6Player nameOriol Romeu
    Average rating

    6.49

  8. Squad number20Player nameSmallbone
    Average rating

    6.45

  9. Squad number22Player nameSalisu
    Average rating

    6.26

  10. Squad number13Player nameCaballero
    Average rating

    6.25

  11. Squad number4Player nameLyanco
    Average rating

    6.01

  12. Squad number7Player nameLong
    Average rating

    5.77

  13. Squad number19Player nameDjenepo
    Average rating

    5.17

  14. Squad number32Player nameWalcott
    Average rating

    5.08

Line-ups

Crystal Palace

Formation 4-3-3

  • 1Butland
  • 2Ward
  • 5TomkinsBooked at 73minsSubstituted forAndersenat 81'minutes
  • 6GuéhiBooked at 25mins
  • 3Mitchell
  • 23Gallagher
  • 12Hughes
  • 8KouyatéSubstituted forBentekeat 64'minutes
  • 9J AyewSubstituted forOliseat 75'minutes
  • 22Édouard
  • 11Zaha

Substitutes

  • 4Milivojevic
  • 7Olise
  • 10Eze
  • 13Guaita
  • 15Schlupp
  • 16Andersen
  • 17Clyne
  • 20Benteke
  • 44Riedewald

Southampton

Formation 4-4-2

  • 13CaballeroBooked at 90mins
  • 21LivramentoBooked at 67mins
  • 4LyancoBooked at 88mins
  • 22SalisuBooked at 84mins
  • 2Walker-Peters
  • 20SmallboneSubstituted forDjenepoat 70'minutes
  • 8Ward-Prowse
  • 6Romeu
  • 11Redmond
  • 23TellaSubstituted forWalcottat 82'minutes
  • 18BrojaSubstituted forLongat 70'minutes

Substitutes

  • 7Long
  • 15Perraud
  • 19Djenepo
  • 24Elyounoussi
  • 27Diallo
  • 32Walcott
  • 35Bednarek
  • 41Lewis
  • 43Valery
Referee:
Simon Hooper
Attendance:
22,861

Match Stats

Home TeamCrystal PalaceAway TeamSouthampton
Possession
Home60%
Away40%
Shots
Home9
Away15
Shots on Target
Home6
Away4
Corners
Home4
Away6
Fouls
Home16
Away20

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Crystal Palace 2, Southampton 2.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Crystal Palace 2, Southampton 2.

  3. Booking

    Willy Caballero (Southampton) is shown the yellow card.

  4. Post update

    Foul by Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace).

  5. Post update

    Lyanco (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  6. Post update

    Attempt missed. Oriol Romeu (Southampton) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Moussa Djenepo.

  7. Post update

    Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Mohammed Salisu.

  8. Post update

    Joachim Andersen (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  9. Post update

    Foul by Shane Long (Southampton).

  10. Post update

    Attempt missed. Joel Ward (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Conor Gallagher.

  11. Booking

    Lyanco (Southampton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  12. Post update

    Odsonne Édouard (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  13. Post update

    Foul by Lyanco (Southampton).

  14. Post update

    Joel Ward (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  15. Post update

    Foul by Moussa Djenepo (Southampton).

  16. Post update

    Foul by Conor Gallagher (Crystal Palace).

  17. Post update

    Moussa Djenepo (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  18. Post update

    Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  19. Post update

    Foul by Theo Walcott (Southampton).

  20. Booking

    Mohammed Salisu (Southampton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

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Comments

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133 comments

  • Comment posted by wemarchon, at 21:27 15 Dec 2021

    Now that's more like it Saints. A good game. 2 fab goals
    I like Viera, so good luck Palace too

    • Reply posted by SherbertDipper, at 21:33 15 Dec 2021

      SherbertDipper replied:
      Two great goals, needed to be Three, but another point away! Need a win soon to get away from the drop!

  • Comment posted by Knighton Palace, at 21:28 15 Dec 2021

    Happy with four points from the last two games, most of the squad fit, and scoring a few goals compared to last season, pretty good first half of the season for Palace overall under the new manager !!

    • Reply posted by Oldmanriver, at 21:52 15 Dec 2021

      Oldmanriver replied:
      Agreed! 👍

  • Comment posted by liverpool supporter right here, at 21:36 15 Dec 2021

    What is it with the Chelsea academy players being loaned out to other clubs and impressing. Armando Broja looks a real prospect

    • Reply posted by wemarchon, at 21:43 15 Dec 2021

      wemarchon replied:
      The PL changed the rules on how far the academies can branch out. Therefore Chelsea were snapping up kids from wider a field. Probably the better ones. Not all of them can or will play for their first team so will be snapped up by teams like ours where they probably should have been had there not been those changes !!

  • Comment posted by the observant one, at 21:29 15 Dec 2021

    Really good game of football because of the ref, apparently his an ex player.

  • Comment posted by me2you2me2you, at 21:32 15 Dec 2021

    Scored two goals away from home and a valuable point. Could have been three, but something is better than nothing. That point could make all the difference at the end of the season

  • Comment posted by what, at 21:50 15 Dec 2021

    Great to see Palace trying to play football.
    Roy's game was like watching paint dry!

    • Reply posted by Toby, at 09:16 16 Dec 2021

      Toby replied:
      But Roy was not given any budget to work with and had a load of mid-30s players in his team. So he had to use all his cunning to keep them competitive any way he could.

  • Comment posted by devers, at 21:43 15 Dec 2021

    Not a bad result for saints, played alot more positive tonight..must say tho what a poor list of subs to bring on, walcott, djenepo and long..all 3 of them are awful..this is why Southampton can't see out games and struggle to win..no options from the bench

    • Reply posted by SherbertDipper, at 21:47 15 Dec 2021

      SherbertDipper replied:
      Agreed, we need at least 3 strong signings to strengthen!

  • Comment posted by SD, at 21:31 15 Dec 2021

    Played well this season palace have.. need to stop bottling games though other than that viera ain’t doing too bad

  • Comment posted by Tailender, at 22:09 15 Dec 2021

    Palace's football is so much better this season. Great credit to Viera.
    Hopefully Olise and Eze will get more game time in due course and continue to improve.
    Hodgson had us well organised but the football was dour and uninspiring.
    Viera has got the team playing well and having a go! Keep it up!

    • Reply posted by Mike Torrinos Cellphone Battery, at 00:09 16 Dec 2021

      Mike Torrinos Cellphone Battery replied:
      I like that Viera tells his forwards to express themselves, far less rigid and use pace of the team rather than rely on Zaha

  • Comment posted by lord boorley, at 21:38 15 Dec 2021

    Saints 15 shots away from home. All we need now is shooting practice and learn to defend. Simple

    • Reply posted by cookie, at 21:44 15 Dec 2021

      cookie replied:
      Did you watch the same game as me mate!

  • Comment posted by Hedgehog, at 21:51 15 Dec 2021

    Good result for the saints. But when are they going to learn about passing back from a great attacking position, they need shooting for Palace first goal.
    Happy with a point

  • Comment posted by mikester, at 21:33 15 Dec 2021

    Who is Nigel on BT Sport? Another biased commentator.

    • Reply posted by liverpool supporter right here, at 21:35 15 Dec 2021

      liverpool supporter right here replied:
      Wow. People today are still called Nigel. I thought that name was going out of fashion

  • Comment posted by tony1984, at 21:38 15 Dec 2021

    It could be worse.. You could be a leeds fan :)

    • Reply posted by perrioli, at 10:45 16 Dec 2021

      perrioli replied:
      Or a Watford, Newcastle, Burnley or Norwich fan, who are all below Leeds in the league.

  • Comment posted by Mido12, at 00:34 16 Dec 2021

    To be honest, I don't really want to criticise Hassenhutl as he's a good manager and done a lot for this club but those substitutions were pretty poor. Broja probably would have scored if he'd stayed on and frankly Tella was one of the best players on the pitch.

    And Shane Long lol, done a lot for the club but isn't he getting on a bit now to be used as an impact sub?

  • Comment posted by D1710852031725, at 21:33 15 Dec 2021

    Good game 3 points would of been better C O Y R

    • Reply posted by Rubylove199, at 08:47 16 Dec 2021

      Rubylove199 replied:
      'would have'.

  • Comment posted by ismail , at 21:49 15 Dec 2021

    Not bad game at all

  • Comment posted by DrCajetanCoelho, at 09:44 16 Dec 2021

    Herr Ralph Hasenhuttl and Monsieur Vieira are bringing out the best from the footballers at their disposal. Saints and CP are improving all the time. All the best.

  • Comment posted by Perry Taine, at 02:40 16 Dec 2021

    Always good to see Saints avoiding defeat -- but when's the victory coming?

  • Comment posted by buzz, at 00:25 16 Dec 2021

    Long, Djenepo and Walcott - subs to put the fear of god up Palace!! Surprising they did nothing (?)

  • Comment posted by Lisa, at 13:30 16 Dec 2021

    Was at the Everton and Southampton games this week.
    Have to say out of us, Southampton and Everton, the team fighting in the relegation spots on these two games will be Everton.
    Not in the same league as Palace and Saints for passion and determination and fight.
    Think Everton are in big trouble.

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Man City1713224093141
2Liverpool16114145123337
3Chelsea16113238112736
4Arsenal179262322129
5West Ham178452821728
6Man Utd168352624227
7Tottenham148151617-125
8Wolves177371314-124
9Leicester166462727022
10Aston Villa177192325-222
11Crystal Palace174852424020
12Brentford165562122-120
13Brighton164841417-320
14Everton165382028-818
15Southampton173861626-1017
16Leeds173771732-1516
17Watford1641112131-1013
18Burnley151861421-711
19Newcastle161781734-1710
20Norwich172411834-2610
View full Premier League table

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