Football Review | Crystal Palace 2 - 0 Brentford

Palace were back to winning ways in the Premier League after a comfortable win over Brentford

It had been three league games without a win before this match

Author | Ajay

Stadium | Selhurst Park

Jean-Philippe Mateta, who struck a hat-trick in Palace’s 3-3 draw with Bournemouth a fortnight ago, injected life into an otherwise subdued first half with a superb looping header over Caoimhin Kelleher and into the far corner.

Brentford, who came into the game buoyed by victory over Liverpool, were sluggish before the interval but almost levelled when Daichi Kamada fouled Mikkel Damsgaard on the edge of the area, only for the Dane to blaze his free-kick well over.

Their troubles deepened shortly after the restart as Nathan Collins inadvertently diverted Jefferson Lerma’s long throw into his own net, handing the hosts a two-goal cushion.

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The unfortunate Collins nearly compounded his misery when he was dispossessed by Ismaila Sarr deep inside his own half, though the Senegal winger could only guide his effort against the inside of the post.

Reiss Nelson drew a fine save from Dean Henderson with a late curling strike, but Palace held firm to secure a comfortable win.

Palace build on midweek cup success

Oliver Glasner’s side had stunned Liverpool with a 3-0 win at Anfield in midweek, a result that came with the added burden of five fixtures in just 11 days in December. The Austrian admitted he was “really upset” about the congested schedule, yet this result (only Palace’s second league win of the season at Selhurst Park) will have eased his frustration.

The opening half-hour offered little between the sides, but Palace seized control once Mateta broke the deadlock and could have doubled their lead before the break when Sarr fired narrowly wide of Kelleher’s post.

Collins’ own goal early in the second half effectively settled the contest, with Brentford enjoying plenty of the ball but lacking penetration. Henderson’s sharp one-handed stop to deny Nelson late on ensured Palace’s first home clean sheet since the goalless draw with Sunderland in September, helping to lift Glasner’s team firmly into the top half of the Premier League table.