Garde: Villa earned luck in Palace victory

Garde and the squad were abused by fans after their 1-1 FA Cup draw at Wycombe as they boarded the team bus with videos appearing on social media.

Crystal Palace will be extra motivated by the fact that an away win could see them climb the table and go as high as fifth place depending on other results.

The team were filmed being abused by their own fans as they got back on the team coach.

They were carved apart on the right as Jason Puncheon and Zaha swapped passes to leave Zaha free in the area and he curled a shot against the outside of a post.

Crystal Palace have failed to score a goal in their last three Premier League games – they haven’t gone without a goal in four successive top-flight matches since Feb 1998 (five games).

But should the club lose their next four matches – starting with Tuesday’s visit of Crystal Palace – they will, statistically, be the joint-worst team after 24 games with Derby.

After a tight first half of few chances, Palace boss Alan Pardew brought on striker Connor Wickham at the break.

Jordan Ayew then burst into the box but hit the side netting with his shot, before Damien Delaney’s effort from Yohan Cabaye’s cross drifted just wide of the post.

But a howler from Hennessey gifted Villa the lead 13 minutes into the second half.

“Villa deserved the victory because they worked so, so hard”.

Mark Bunn made his first Premier League start for the club in goal as Guzan was axed, while Libor Kozak came in from the cold to start upfront. “It is our ethos really, so we won’t go away from that and we do carry a number of British players, but we’re not bothered about nationality, definitely not”. Joleon Lescott’s header was powerful but lacked direction and was straight at the goalkeeper. The ball ended up slipping between Hennessey’s legs after Lescott had towered above Scott Dann and Wickham to win Carles Gil’s corner – and the goalline technology merely confirmed what everyone in the stadium already knew. They have leaked just seven goals on their travels, the best record in the entire division.

Ghana forward Jordan Ayew could leave struggling Aston Villa at the end of the season with various clubs in and around England showing interest in him. “The players can hopefully pick up on the positivity they felt out there tonight”.

“One of our poorest displays of the season”, Pardew said.