Second-placed Burnley ended their 16-game winless streak thanks to a seven-minute Crystal Palace surrender, which saw Scott Parker’s side score twice in the first half to win 3-2 at Selhurst Park.
On a day that should have been very different for Oliver Glasner’s side, Jorgen Strand Larsen got off to a dream start with two goals on his home debut.
It was a one-way street for the first 40 minutes against the Burnley team, who arrived late due to traffic congestion and had a delayed kick-off.
But after a frosty start, Hannibal Mevry pulled one back for Burnley before Jayden Anthony beat Dean Henderson to draw the Clarets level.
But Burnley did not end there. As halftime approached, Bashir Humphreys’ header caused confusion and resulted in a Jefferson Lerma own goal.
Palace, who recovered from a head loss just 45 minutes into the first half, were suffocating but could not break down a rarely solid Burnley defence. Palace’s only shot on target in the second half came in stoppage time when Martin Dubravka made a super stop to deny Ismaila Sarr an equalizer.
Palace’s defeat saw them extend their Selhurst rot with the Eagles, dropping to 14th with eight games without a home win.
Burnley’s comeback after drifting in the fight for Premier League survival has helped them close the gap on 18th-placed West Ham to six points.
Glasner criticizes sloppy defense.
Crystal Palace president Oliver Glasner He said his team didn’t deserve to win.
“If we defend so sloppily like we did in these eight or nine minutes, we deserve to lose,” Glasner said.
“We dominated the game, scored good goals and looked at what the players did: forgetting the basics, duels, second balls, defending, complaining about referee decisions, handballs and stoppages of play.
“We still complain when we concede goals. Maybe it felt too easy to stand too low and dominate the game.
“Then we got a penalty in the second half, we tried everything, but if you throw the game away like we did in these eight or nine minutes, you don’t deserve to win and that’s why we have to accept it. But honestly, today was very difficult.”
Parker: Not many teams can do what we did tonight.
burnley president scott parker was full of praise for his team after the win.
“We were at home last weekend and there was adversity, stress and obvious frustration for everyone. “Tonight’s performance was unfortunate, but not many teams can do that.
“It’s not where we are, it’s not where we’re sitting at the moment, and in the home game against West Ham we’re being booed by our fans virtually outside the stadium. “I’m not criticizing that, I understand I have my own view on it, but to come here and be 2-0 down, that just speaks to (the volume).
“I have four sons, and one thing I tell them is this: If there was ever a learning experience for them, my little boys, it’s tonight. Because in that moment, in this moment, that group of guys that were able to fold, what you see tonight was unbelievable.”
