Gerrard's Villa secure impressive win at Palace

Published on: 27 November 2021

Gerrard is the first Villa manager since John Gregory in March 1998 to win his first two Premier League games

Steven Gerrard secured his second win as Aston Villa manager with a 2-1 victory over Patrick Vieira's Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

After wildly celebrating grabbing all three points late on against Brighton a week ago, the former Liverpool captain was again jubilant when Matt Targett put Villa ahead with a low drive through a crowd of bodies from Ashley Young's corner on 15 minutes.

As Palace tried to salvage something in the closing stages of the second half, John McGinn curled a beautiful shot into the top corner from the edge of the box to double the visitors' lead against the run of play.

Palace managed to snatch a late consolation through Marc Guehi in injury time but it was not enough to deny Villa.

The travelling Villa support were treated to a confident performance in bitterly cold conditions in south London, with McGinn, Ezri Konsa and Tyrone Mings all having chances for the visitors in the first half after Targett's opener.

Palace should have opened the scoring through Wilfried Zaha after the forward jinked past his marker on the edge of the Villa box but his left-footed effort was dragged just wide of the far post.

The Eagles saw a great opportunity to equalise after the break denied when referee Michael Salisbury blew his whistle for a foul by Marvelous Nakamba on Zaha and missed the advantage Christian Benteke and Conor Gallagher had created.

Villa almost played out the final quarter of the game with 10 men as substitute Douglas Luiz was shown a red card for a challenge on Cheikhou Kouyate, but it was downgraded to a yellow after Salisbury consulted the pitchside monitor.

The win moves Villa up into 11th place, level on points with Palace in 10th.

A new battle for Gerrard and Vieira

Gerrard said before the match that former Arsenal captain Vieira was one of his toughest opponents during his days marshalling the Liverpool midfield, and their first competitive meeting as managers was keenly anticipated.

Villa had only won once on the road this season - a 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford in September - and although it was a nervy end to proceedings for Gerrard, his team were worthy winners.

Full-backs Matty Cash and Targett, plus Scotland midfielder McGinn, provided a constant threat for Villa, along with 36-year-old Young, who is now the oldest player to assist in consecutive Premier League games for the club.

For Vieira, one of his key tasks is surely to improve his side's ability to defend set-pieces. Targett's first-half strike was the 10th goal Palace have conceded from either a corner or a free-kick out of the 19 they have shipped in the league this season.

The Eagles will have to regroup now and hope Saturday's defeat was just a temporary blip on what has otherwise been an excellent home record this season.

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Player of the match

McGinnJohn McGinn

with an average of 8.71

    Crystal PalaceCrystal PalaceCrystal PalaceAston VillaAston VillaAston Villa

Crystal PalaceAvgSquad number23Player nameGallagherAverage rating

6.60

Squad number22Player nameÉdouardAverage rating

5.57

Squad number13Player nameGuaitaAverage rating

5.38

Squad number6Player nameGuéhiAverage rating

5.33

Squad number10Player nameEzeAverage rating

5.26

Squad number7Player nameOliseAverage rating

5.25

Squad number3Player nameMitchellAverage rating

5.20

Squad number20Player nameBentekeAverage rating

5.19

Squad number2Player nameWardAverage rating

5.17

Squad number11Player nameZahaAverage rating

5.10

Squad number5Player nameTomkinsAverage rating

5.05

Squad number8Player nameKouyatéAverage rating

5.03

Squad number4Player nameMilivojevicAverage rating

4.50

Squad number9Player nameJ AyewAverage rating

4.29

Aston VillaAvgSquad number7Player nameMcGinnAverage rating

8.71

Squad number3Player nameTargettAverage rating

7.98

Squad number19Player nameNakambaAverage rating

7.83

Squad number2Player nameCashAverage rating

7.80

Squad number18Player nameYoungAverage rating

7.79

Squad number1Player nameMartínezAverage rating

7.69

Squad number41Player nameJ RamseyAverage rating

7.65

Squad number5Player nameMingsAverage rating

7.65

Squad number4Player nameKonsaAverage rating

7.51

Squad number11Player nameWatkinsAverage rating

7.51

Squad number21Player nameEl GhaziAverage rating

7.42

Squad number31Player nameBaileyAverage rating

7.39

Squad number10Player nameBuendíaAverage rating

7.06

Squad number6Player nameDouglas LuizAverage rating

6.54

    Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text

Line-upsCrystal Palace

Formation 4-2-3-1

13Guaita2Ward5Tomkins6Guéhi3Mitchell4Milivojevic8Kouyaté7Olise23Gallagher11Zaha20Benteke

    13Guaita2WardBooked at 44mins5Tomkins6Guéhi3Mitchell4MilivojevicBooked at 56minsSubstituted forEzeat 60'minutes8Kouyaté7OliseSubstituted forJ Ayewat 87'minutes23Gallagher11ZahaBooked at 29minsSubstituted forÉdouardat 72'minutes20Benteke

Substitutes

    1Butland9J Ayew10Eze12Hughes15Schlupp17Clyne22Édouard34Kelly44Riedewald

Aston Villa

Formation 4-3-3

1Martínez2Cash4Konsa5Mings3Targett7McGinn19Nakamba41J Ramsey31Bailey11Watkins18Young

    1Martínez2CashBooked at 29mins4Konsa5Mings3Targett7McGinn19NakambaBooked at 54mins41J RamseySubstituted forDouglas Luizat 67'minutesBooked at 74mins31BaileySubstituted forEl Ghaziat 77'minutes11Watkins18YoungSubstituted forBuendíaat 85'minutes

Substitutes

    6Douglas Luiz8Sanson10Buendía12Steer16Tuanzebe20Ings21El Ghazi30Hause33Chukwuemeka

Referee:Michael SalisburyAttendance:25,203Match StatsHome TeamCrystal PalaceAway TeamAston VillaPossessionHome63%Away37%ShotsHome8Away10Shots on TargetHome3Away3CornersHome7Away3FoulsHome12Away10Live TextPost update

Match ends, Crystal Palace 1, Aston Villa 2.

90'+7'Full Time

Second Half ends, Crystal Palace 1, Aston Villa 2.

90'+5'goalGoal!

Goal! Crystal Palace 1, Aston Villa 2. Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Cheikhou Kouyaté with a cross following a set piece situation.

90'+4'Post update

Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

90'+4'Post update

Foul by John McGinn (Aston Villa).

90'+3'Post update

Attempt missed. Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box misses to the right. Assisted by Joel Ward following a corner.

90'+2'Post update

Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Matt Targett.

90'+1'Post update

Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

90'+1'Post update

Foul by Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa).

90'Post update

Attempt missed. Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Conor Gallagher.

87'Substitution

Substitution, Crystal Palace. Jordan Ayew replaces Michael Olise.

86'goalGoal!

Goal! Crystal Palace 0, Aston Villa 2. John McGinn (Aston Villa) left footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Anwar El Ghazi.

85'Substitution

Substitution, Aston Villa. Emiliano Buendía replaces Ashley Young.

84'Post update

Foul by Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace).

84'Post update

John McGinn (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

81'Post update

Attempt saved. Odsonne Édouard (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Conor Gallagher.

80'Post update

Attempt saved. Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by James Tomkins with a headed pass.

79'Post update

Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Matt Targett.

77'Substitution

Substitution, Aston Villa. Anwar El Ghazi replaces Leon Bailey.

74'Booking

Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

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Source: bbc.com

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