Key stats
- Only once before have Aston Villa failed to score in each of their opening three league games of a campaign, doing so in 1997-98 in the top-flight.
- Ismaïla Sarr has scored in each of his last four appearances against Aston Villa in all competitions, netting six goals in total across those matches.
- Six of Marc Guéhi's seven Premier League goals have come away from home.
Highlights
Match report
The overriding story pre-match was the omission of Emiliano Martínez from the Aston Villa squad amid ongoing speculation over his future ahead of deadline day. Villa were keen not to let that affect them on the pitch, and they started brightly, spurring a great chance to take the lead inside the opening five minutes when a totally unmarked Youri Tielemans headed over from six yards out.
Unai Emery was left cursing being without his number one keeper after 20 minutes, when stand-in stopper Marco Bizot felled Daichi Kamada in the area. Jean-Philippe Mateta assumed responsibility from the spot, and after missing one at Wembley when these sides met in the FA Cup semi-final last term, he made no mistake this time around, sending Bizot the wrong way.
Villa’s attacking offerings were few and far between in the first half, but they did create a gilt-edged opportunity on the stroke of HT. There was a stroke of fortune to how it came about as John McGinn’s hopeful ball forward caused chaos in the Palace defence and Ollie Watkins pounced to fire an effort towards Dean Henderson which he rebuffed from point-blank range.
Emery had seen enough at HT and looked to his bench in an attempt to change the feel of the game, replacing Evann Guessand with Emi Buendia, and that did swing the momentum in their favour, but a fine Henderson save to deny Tielemans from distance had the Villa Park faithful frustrated.
They were even more frustrated midway through the second half when Palace doubled their advantage against the run of play. It came from an unlikely source too, as Marc Guéhi popped up on the edge of the area and curled home a sumptuous strike into the far corner past a statuesque Bizot.
Considering Villa were yet to score a single Premier League (PL) goal this term, the enormity of their task was laid bare for all to see, but the fact they were unbeaten in 19 PL home games offered a glimmer of hope. Any lingering hopes were dashed a little over 10 minutes from time when Ismaïla Sarr put his head in where it hurt at the far post to score in a fourth successive game against Villa.
Villa huffed and puffed in the closing stages as they attempted to salvage a crumb of pride by at least ending their goal drought, but Emery’s men were once again blunted by Palace and go into the international break in the bottom three.
Palace meanwhile have been able to balance their European and domestic commitments perfectly so far, qualifying for the league phase of the UEFA Conference League while making an unbeaten start to their PL campaign.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace)
Analysis
Marc Guéhi starred for Crystal Palace and received the highest Flashscore rating of the match with 8.2, but will he remain a Palace player after the transfer deadline closes tomorrow?
Aston Villa enjoyed 58% possession but conceded goals at crucial times of the match, swinging the momentum Palace's way.
Click here to see all the stats of the match.
Post-match reaction
Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta told Sky Sports: "We are tired. We give everything. A lot of games and we deserve to finish with this win. We work very hard.
"We have a fantastic manager and fantastic staff. We watched the video, and we did everything on the pitch and that's why it is working.
"I think Marc (scored) the best goal. We sacrifice a lot. We know we have to play all the game. We sacrifice for the team.
"We have a great group. Hopefully we keep winning."
On Marc Guehi, he added: "Every game he brings something new, and he is a fantastic player. I hope he stays with us."
Speaking to Sky Sports, Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi said: "I'm a south London boy, captain of the football club from a young age. They have been fantastic for me and my family, so it's definitely a pleasure to play for this football club.
"I don't like the limelight too much. There are a lot of cameras in my face all the time and constantly talking about me, but I'm lucky that I have a good club and teammates around me."
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery to Sky Sports: "Frustrated yes, but we played the first half well and followed the game plan we were expecting and we were dominating the match.
We were not creating good chances, we had one very good one with (Ollie) Watkins. But we were dominating. We did not concede corners or set pieces. We had good ball possession and did not concede many transitions. Then we conceded the penalty and it was 1-0, so of course after it was more difficult.
"The second half we started well the first 20-25 minutes until the second goal and then maybe after it was more difficult. Of course we are frustrated and sad for our supporters but you have to accept it.
"In the first three games we have started badly but tomorrow is 1st September, the transfer window finishes and I am confident for the next matches after this week."
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner told BBC Match of the Day: "Congratulations and big credit to the players. Busy start and also short of numbers, many players played every single game. We had to pay the bill today with two muscle injuries, but the players did so excellently."
On Marc Guehi's possible transfer to Liverpool: "I told this to chairman we have to keep Marc if we want to play a successful season. We have no chance to find the right replacement in one day. We all agreed that we just sell Marc if we have the right replacement in the building.
"We wanted a replacement by the 1st July. We have this agreement so it is clear from me. He is such a crucial player. He is one of our key players - he is our captain. Again, if we want to play a successful season we have to keep him."