Crystal Palace won a tense affair with Aston Villa at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
A late goal from summer signing Bakary Sako - his first for the club - enabled Alan Pardew's Eagles to get the better of Tim Sherwood's Villa 2-1 in South London.
Scott Dan edged Palace in front with a powerful 71st-minute header from Jason Puncheon's corner before a strong run from Villa debutant Adama Traore forced Pape Souare to concede an own-goal six minutes later.
But Sako popped up in the 87th minute when Dann pounced on a defensive mistake by Jordan Amavi and played in the former Wolves ace who fired beyond Brad Guzan from the edge of the area.
The win has Palace in fourth position while Villa sit 14th.
MATCH OVERVIEW
Crystal Palace: 2 (Scott Dann 71', Bakary Sako 87')
Aston Villa: 1 (Pape Souare (og) 77')
Selhurst Park, London - 25,000
Debuts: CRY - Bakary Sako (club and league)
AV - Adama Traore (club and league)
TALKING POINTS
- Can Palace be the surprise packet of 2015/16? Does Pardew have them in with a chance of forcing their way into the top 7 or 8?
- Are Villa capable of bouncing back from two losses and stringing a few results together?
WHAT'S NEXT?
Palace meet Shrewsbury Town in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday before heading to champions Chelsea on the weekend while Villa get set to host Notts County in the cup ahead of their home clash with Sunderland.
TWITTER INSIGHT
Dreaming debut : 90minutes, 3points, 1goal and Man Of The Match. Buzzin @cpfc#picoftheday… https://t.co/zzfZF54cxo
— sako bakary (@sakobakary26) August 22, 2015What a great win. That was for @YannickBolasie and his family #cpfc
— James Mcarthur (@jamesmcarthur16) August 22, 2015Gutted with the result today but happy to be back on the pitch. Fans were great! Onto Tues game vs Notts County#AVFCpic.twitter.com/OSaAAhYEFJ
— Jack Grealish (@JackGrealish1) August 22, 2015
QUOTES CORNER
Palace boss Pardew on debutant Sako:
"He will be a real asset for us.
"He's announced himself today in no uncertain manner."
Villa's Sherwood in disappointing result:
"Palace came out a better side in the second half. They scored, we managed to wrestle our way back in, (so) to lose with three minutes to go was devastating.
"They didn't have to work hard for both goals."
TEAM LEADERS
PALACE
Goals - Six players all on 1
Assists - Jason Puncheon, James McArthur 2
Yellow cards - Four players all on 1
VILLA
Goals - Rudy Gestede 1
Assists - Ashley Westwood 1
Clean sheets - Brad Guzan 1
Yellow cards - Ciaran Clark, Leandro Bacuna, Idriss Gueye 2
