The Top Flight
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Match review: Crystal Palace 1-0 victory over Burnley at Selhurst Park

By Ashley Anthony

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 13: Bakary Sako of Crystal Palace celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Burnley at Selhurst Park on January 13, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 13: Bakary Sako of Crystal Palace celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Burnley at Selhurst Park on January 13, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) /
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Crystal Palace treated their fans to another hard-fought victory over a side who’s been having a cracking season to date. Burnley had no answers for the home side and sunk to a single goal.

Roy Hodgson takes Palace to another level and paints a picture of a difference in the quest set out for him – to take the London club out the relegation zone. He accepted and did one better – he made his Palace side, almost impossible to beat.

Burnley, obvious favourites in yesterday’s game, struggled to get anything in the game. One goal away from a point – shows off the resilience by the home side. With a squad not as big as other teams and a first 11, the only ones capable of doing Dyche’s job.

Move into a period where breaks between games are fewer and players start losing their legs – and you can clearly see them struggle. It’s been a difficult festive period for Sean Dyche and his Burnley side. Their start to the campaign was far more convincing compared to recent weeks.

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Crystal Palace vs Burnley Match stats:

Crystal Palace
Stat
Burnley
1Goals0
44%Possession56%
66%Pass Accuracy74%
17Total Shots8
2Shots on Target2
3Corners2
19Tackles18
0Offsides4
16Fouls10
0Yellow Cards3
0Red Cards0

Next: Harry Maguire a possible target

Palace was the team wasteful on the day, but used the one chance of the 18 taken to seal the deal. Sakho was this weekend’s hero after a acute goal in the first half. The manager was full of praises for the striker after the game.

The manager feels he’s been coming to the party of late and feels the player will only improve on his run of form. Palace shared little of the possession, although, the match was heavily contested. Burnley had more of the possession, but could do little to penetrate a stubborn Crystal defence.

The game was your typical Burnley game with a low scoring encounter. Many of the Clarets’ games usually ends by a team winning by one goal. Burnley’s put themselves further behind Arsenal and now sit only three points above the next team, Leicester City.

Crystal Palace steadily pushes themselves five points clear of the drop zone and continue the good start to 2018.

Crystal Palace player ratings:

Goalkeeper:  Hennessy (GK) – 7.8

Defence: Aanholt (LB) – 6.8; Tomkins (CB) – 7.2; Kelly (CB) -7.3; Fosu-Mensah (RB) – 7.9

Midfield: McArthur (RM) – 6.5; Riedewald (CM) – 6.9; Milivojevic (CM) – 7.6; Zaha (LM) – 7.0

Forwards: Sakho (CF) – 7.9; Benteke (CF) – 7.2

No subs made.

Burnley player ratings:

Goalkeeper:  Pope (GK) – 6.8

Defence: Taylor (LB) – 7.2; Mee (CB) – 6.3; Tarkowski (CB) – 7.4; Bardsley (RB) – 6.2

Midfield: Defour (CM) – 6.7; Cork(CM) – 6.7; Barnes (LM) – 6.7; Gudmundsson (RM) – 6.8; Hendrick (CAM) – 5.7

Forwards: (CF) Vokes – 6.8

Substitutions: Nkoudou – 6.3; Wells – 6.2

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