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Eberechi Eze struck twice as Crystal Palace won their third consecutive game and left wasteful Southampton rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table.
Eze was the catalyst for Palace as he scored from a rebound after Jordan Ayew’s strike was palmed into his path by home keeper Gavin Bazunu.
His second goal saw him turn away from his defender and arrow a precise finish into the bottom corner.
Southampton were lively in the first half, with Kamaldeen Sulemana heading over, but were unable to make their chances count.
Clinical Eze seals victory
Just like in their 5-1 win over Leeds last weekend, Crystal Palace were off the pace in the first half.
Cheick Doucoure fired over the bar after two minutes, but the away side did not have a shot on target in the opening 45 minutes.
However, the Eagles held firm defensively and went on to produce a clinical display in the second half.
Eze has now scored seven Premier League goals this season, more than any other Crystal Palace player.
Palace remain 12th, and their fears of relegation are fading after another impressive performance on the road.
Spirited display not enough for Southampton
Southampton’s chances of beating the drop have been dealt a blow by a second consecutive home defeat.
The Saints were the better team in the first half, creating numerous openings while they were in the ascendancy. Sulemana headed over from close range, as well as having a tame effort following a clever one-two with Theo Walcott.
Joe Aribo, making his first Premier League start since New Year’s Eve, missed a glorious chance when he blasted over the bar despite being unmarked in the box.
The home crowd also saw Walcott shoot just over the bar as Southampton’s lack of clinical finishing was laid bare.
Even after falling behind, Ruben Selles’ side were left to rue missed opportunities.
Carlos Alcaraz was left frustrated after squandering two chances in two minutes. First, he was inches away when he shot from the edge of the box and it hit the inside of the post. Another chance came when Palace failed to deal with a cross and Alcaraz pounced, only to volley it over the bar from close range.
Southampton have now gone six games without victory, and have suffered 10 home defeats in the Premier League this season, equalling their most losses on home soil in a single campaign.
Player of the match
EzeEberechi Eze
Southampton
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Squad number31Player nameBazunu
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Squad number32Player nameWalcott
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Squad number45Player nameLavia
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Squad number3Player nameMaitland-Niles
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Squad number2Player nameWalker-Peters
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Squad number7Player nameAribo
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Squad number26Player nameAlcaraz
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Squad number37Player nameBella-Kotchap
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Squad number20Player nameSulemana
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Squad number35Player nameBednarek
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Squad number17Player nameS Armstrong
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Squad number8Player nameWard-Prowse
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Squad number12Player nameOnuachu
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Squad number19Player nameDjenepo
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Squad number23Player nameEdozie
Crystal Palace
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Squad number10Player nameEze
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Squad number7Player nameOlise
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Squad number19Player nameHughes
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Squad number16Player nameAndersen
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Squad number21Player nameJohnstone
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Squad number28Player nameDoucouré
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Squad number6Player nameGuéhi
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Squad number9Player nameJ Ayew
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Squad number3Player nameMitchell
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Squad number2Player nameWard
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Squad number8Player nameSambi Lokonga
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Squad number22Player nameÉdouard
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Squad number15Player nameSchlupp
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Squad number14Player nameMateta
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Squad number5Player nameTomkins
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Squad number4Player nameMilivojevic
Line-ups
Southampton
Formation 4-4-2
- 31Bazunu
- 3Maitland-Niles
- 35BednarekBooked at 90mins
- 37Bella-KotchapBooked at 90mins
- 2Walker-Peters
- 32WalcottSubstituted forDjenepoat 62′minutes
- 8Ward-Prowse
- 45LaviaBooked at 52mins
- 20SulemanaSubstituted forS Armstrongat 80′minutes
- 26AlcarazSubstituted forEdozieat 80′minutes
- 7AriboSubstituted forOnuachuat 62′minutes
Substitutes
- 1McCarthy
- 6Caleta-Car
- 12Onuachu
- 15Perraud
- 17S Armstrong
- 18Mara
- 19Djenepo
- 23Edozie
- 24Elyounoussi
Crystal Palace
Formation 4-3-3
- 21Johnstone
- 2Ward
- 16AndersenBooked at 43mins
- 6GuéhiSubstituted forTomkinsat 90+3′minutes
- 3Mitchell
- 10Eze
- 28DoucouréSubstituted forMilivojevicat 85′minutes
- 15SchluppSubstituted forSambi Lokongaat 85′minutes
- 7Olise
- 22ÉdouardSubstituted forHughesat 74′minutes
- 9J AyewSubstituted forMatetaat 90+3′minutes
Substitutes
- 4Milivojevic
- 5Tomkins
- 8Sambi Lokonga
- 14Mateta
- 18McArthur
- 19Hughes
- 26Richards
- 44Riedewald
- 63Goodman
- Referee:
- Michael Oliver
- Attendance:
- 30,309
Live Text
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Match ends, Southampton 0, Crystal Palace 2.
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Second Half ends, Southampton 0, Crystal Palace 2.
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Foul by Paul Onuachu (Southampton).
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Tyrick Mitchell (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Hand ball by Luka Milivojevic (Crystal Palace).
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Michael Olise (Crystal Palace) hits the left post with a left footed shot from outside the box from a direct free kick.
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Substitution, Crystal Palace. Jean-Philippe Mateta replaces Jordan Ayew.
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Substitution, Crystal Palace. James Tomkins replaces Marc Guéhi.
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Armel Bella-Kotchap (Southampton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Armel Bella-Kotchap (Southampton).
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Michael Olise (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Jan Bednarek (Southampton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Paul Onuachu (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Joachim Andersen (Crystal Palace).
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Offside, Southampton. Roméo Lavia tries a through ball, but Paul Onuachu is caught offside.
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Substitution, Crystal Palace. Luka Milivojevic replaces Cheick Doucouré.
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Substitution, Crystal Palace. Albert Sambi Lokonga replaces Jeffrey Schlupp.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace).
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Attempt missed. Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Michael Olise.
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