Crystal Palace boosted their bid for Premier League survival with a 5-1 thrashing of relegation rivals Leeds on Sunday.
Roy Hodgson’s facet erased Patrick Bamford’s first half with an excellent counter-attacking show at Elland Street.
Marc Guehi equalized simply earlier than the break and Palace turned on the fashion after half-time with emphatic finishes from Jordan Ayew, who scored twice, Eberechi Eze and Odsonne Edouard.
Palace’s first win at Elland Street since 2006 lifted them six factors away from the relegation zone, whereas Leeds remained simply two factors off the underside three.
The south Londoners have been winless in 2023 earlier than Hodgson changed the sacked Patrick Vieira till the tip of the season.
Palace went three video games with no single shot on track within the last days of Vieira’s reign, however their largest league win since 2020 confirmed Hodgson has already made a big effect.
Hodgson, in his second spell as Palace boss, impressed an vital 2-1 win towards Leicester within the first leg and his second recreation was much more spectacular.
Palace star Wilfried Zaha has been dominated out with a groin harm, an ominous absence contemplating they’ve gained simply 4 of their final 33 league video games with out the Ivory Coast striker.
The early indicators weren’t encouraging for Palace as Sam Johnstone, making his first top-flight look since 2021, needed to parry Brenden Aaronson’s shot earlier than diving to his left to avoid wasting Luis Sinisterra’s sharp shot.
Sinisterra have been a relentless risk within the first half, with the Colombian testing Johnston twice in fast succession with a pair of Luke Ayling crosses.
Leeds’ stress was lastly rewarded within the twenty first minute when Bamford met Aaronson’s nook with a fast header that deflected off the far put up.
Barely escaping their very own half earlier than Bamford’s purpose, Palace threatened when Jeffrey Schlupp headed onto the put up earlier than Ayew’s effort was cleared off the road.
Leeds continued their barrage, with Jack Harrison’s free-kick hitting Johnstone and Robin Koch’s header saved by the overworked Palace keeper.
Pascal Struijk compelled one other nice save from Johnston moments later with a header.
However in some way Palace survived the siege and equalized in first-half stoppage time.
Eze took Schlupp’s free-kick to Guehi, who received to the ball earlier than Leeds keeper Illan Meslier volleyed house from shut vary.
Palas elevated their degree and took the lead within the 53rd minute.
Ayew scored simply as soon as all season however rose to Olise’s pin-point cross with a positive header that gave Meslier no likelihood.
Hodgson’s males had all of the momentum and struck once more two minutes later when Eze discovered Olise, ran onto his return go and slotted house from 10 yards.
With Leeds in disarray, Edouard scored Palace’s fourth purpose from Olise’s go within the 69th minute and Ayew completed the fifth from shut vary eight minutes later.
AFP