Report & Highlights: Palace put four past Villa in stunning show at Selhurst

Summary:

• One change for Palace, seeking a first home league win of 2025.
• 21: Tielemans glances wide for Villa in first real chance of the match.
• 26: Ramsey runs clear to score for Villa, but is flagged offside.
• 30 – GOAL: Richards header is saved by Martinez but birthday boy Sarr reacts to score.
• 38: Sarr denied a second from close range before blazing over rebound.
• 44: Rogers’ effort for Villa is disallowed upon VAR review for offside in the build-up.
• HT: Palace 1-0 Villa
• 46: Eze shoots over as Palace make a bright start to the second-half.
• 52 – GOAL: Rogers equalises for Villa after finding space in the Palace box.
• 59 – GOAL: Mateta collects Eze’s lay-off to slam Palace back into the lead.
• 67: Konsa’s near-post header clips the top of the bar and goes over.
• 71 – GOAL: Sarr guides home Muñoz’s lofted pull-back to stretch the advantage.
• 74: Mitchell runs clear from Mateta’s pass, but prods wide of the far post.
• 90+1 – GOAL: Nketiah taps home first Palace league goal from Mitchell’s pull-back.
• 90+5: Henderson produces sharp save with his legs to deny Tielemans.
• FT: Palace 4-1 Villa

Celebrating his 27th birthday in style, Sarr got the Eagles off to a strong start in the first-half and, whilst Villa equalised through Morgan Rogers early in the second-half, that only pushed Palace to seize further control on a memorable night in SE25.

Mateta restored the home team’s lead moments later with a brilliantly taken effort to move second in our all-time top Premier League goalscorers list (with 36), before Sarr added his second of the night and Eddie Nketiah, off the bench, poached his first goal for Palace in the Premier League in injury time.

The result saw Palace move up to 12th in the table, as they continue to look upwards heading into the season’s final furlong.

Looking to build on their club-record fourth consecutive away win in the competition, the Eagles were chasing a first home Premier League win of the season against an Aston Villa side faring well in this season’s UEFA Champions League.

Manager Oliver Glasner brought in Adam Wharton for the fixture, the England international making his first Premier League start since Palace’s win over Tottenham Hotspur on 27th October after recovering from a groin injury.

In truth, the opening 20 minutes were reflective of the fact that both teams had been involved in hard-fought – but impressive – victories just 72 hours prior, as little was created by either side, although Marc Guéhi and Chris Richards both made important interceptions in front of the Palace goal.

The first clear chances went the way of Villa, with Youri Tielemans glancing wide from Andrés Garcia’s whipped cross and Jacob Ramsey slotting home from Ollie Watkins’ through ball – but the Villa forward was clearly offside, and was duly flagged.

Moments later – with Palace’s first clear chance of the night – the Eagles got Selhurst bouncing.

After an initial corner kick was cleared, Ebere Eze flashed a cross in which birthday boy Sarr – try as he might – could not stretch to reach with his head. No matter; Adam Wharton whipped the ball back in with precision, Chris Richards’ header goalwards was spilled by Emiliano Martínez, and in steamed Sarr at the far post to slam home with glee, the perfect way to mark his 27th birthday.

Not for the first time, VAR paused proceedings to check the goal for offside in the build-up – but this one passed its lengthy check.

Palace drew confidence from the goal and began to string together chances, Eze having a shot blocked from the edge of the box before teeing up Sarr who – denied initially by Martínez with an instinctive effort – could not adjust his body in time to fire home the rebound this time, blazing over.

On the stroke of half-time, Villa believed they had drawn level when Morgan Rogers – their brightest spark of the half – slammed home from Watkins’ optimistic low ball in, only for VAR – involved throughout the night – to rule it out for a Watkins offside in the build-up.

Palace began the second-half brightly with Eze shooting over from the edge of the box – but were undone moments later by a well-taken, if simple, effort.

A long ball forwards from Villa substitute goalkeeper Robin Olsen was flicked on by Watkins and Rogers stole onto the bouncing ball, weaving between two defenders and turning sharply to find the bottom corner with a precise finish.

It was harsh on Palace – and seemed only to spur them on to reach another level.

Seven minutes later, Villa were caught playing out from the back as Richards hassled, Sarr nipped in to win it, Wharton played a first-time ball to Eze and Mateta – racing onto the lay-off – carried the ball cross the box before slamming in a brilliant left-footed effort into the top corner.

It was a goal which took the Frenchman onto 36 Premier League goals for the club, and into second into our all-time top scorers list, ahead of Christian Benteke on 35.

It had been a game of narrow margins up to that point, and Palace benefitted from them again moments later when Ezri Konsa’s near post header from a corner clipped the top of the bar on its way over.

But then the Eagles turned on the style, producing an utterly dominant final quarter of the game.

Sarr made it a birthday to remember with his second goal of the night, and Palace’s third of the evening, guiding home Daniel Muñoz’s flashed cross – at a challenging height – with a brilliantly executed side-foot finish across Olsen. VAR checked it – and VAR awarded it.

Tyrick Mitchell then had the chance to score his first league goal of the campaign as Mateta’s brilliant lofted pass set him clear on goal, but the No. 3 prodded wide when running clean through.

And while Villa continued to press in search of a route back into the match, testing Palace’s back line – who all responded admirably – it was the Eagles who were carving out the better opportunities in the closing stages.

The icing on the cake? Eddie Nketiah’s first Premier League goal for the club, just as the clock ticked into injury time, as the No. 9’s well-timed run saw him turn home Mitchell’s low ball into the six-yard box.

There was still time for Dean Henderson to make an impressive near-post save with his legs Tielemans’ header – an outstanding instinctual save.

A night on which, once again, every player of a Palace persuasion shone under the lights.

“Oli Glasner’s red and blue army” sang Selhurst Park as the players left the pitch, celebrating a fully deserved first home league win of 2025; a second in three games against Villa this season; and sixth in the last seven home league matches against the Villans.

Palace: Henderson (GK), Richards, Lacroix, Guéhi, Muñoz, Hughes (Lerma, 58), Wharton (Kamada, 78), Mitchell, Eze, Sarr (Nketiah, 87), Mateta.

Subs: Turner (GK), Clyne, Chilwell, Kporha, Devenny, Esse.

Aston Villa: Martínez (GK) (Olsen, HT), García (Bailey, HT), Konsa, Disasi, Bogarde, Digne (Maatsen, 78), McGinn, Tielemans, Ramsey (Rashford, 69), Rogers, Watkins (Asensio, 69).

Subs: Zych (GK), Mings, Malen, Jimoh.

As It Happened