Crystal Palace made it five wins from eight matches courtesy of a 2-0 home win over West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
Second-half goals from Yannick Bolasie and the impressive Yohan Cabaye guided Alan Pardew's side to a second-successive victory which has the South Londoners already sitting on 15 points.
Palace had to be patient but finally made the breakthrough when Cabaye drifted a cross from the left side of the box which was met by Bolasie's header in the 68th minute to give the winger his first goal at Selhurst Park in more than two-and-a-half years.
The second goal came late in proceedings when Wilfried Zaha was caught in the area by Chris Brunt, prompting referee Jon Moss to point to the spot, with star midfielder Cabaye stepping up and sending Boaz Myhill the wrong way.
It was a deserved win for Palace while Albion had to settle for nothing as they fell to 17th place on the table with a second straight defeat.
MATCH OVERVIEW
Crystal Palace: 2 (Yannick Bolasie 68', Yohan Cabaye (PEN) 89')
West Bromwich Albion: 0
Selhurst Park, London - 24,033
TALKING POINTS
- Palace continue to show great early-season form to sit fourth. Can they sustain this for the rest of the season?
- Cabaye has been a star for Palace already. Will he prove to be one of the Premier League's best summer signings?
- Albion starting to leak goals after a solid start. How will Pulis rectify their recent defensive shortcomings?
WHAT'S NEXT?
Palace host London rivals West Ham United on October 17 after the international break as the Baggies get set to host second-bottom Sunderland.
TWITTER INSIGHT
New contract and a goal , so pleased for @yannickbolasie#cpfchttps://t.co/LnPlKuS7HU
— Steve Parish (@CEO4TAG) October 3, 2015Great win https://t.co/cKqlCgoeTy
— Wilfried Zaha (@wilfriedzaha) October 3, 2015Not the result or performance we'd hoped for today, can only look forward to next game, huge week ahead now with ireland
— James McClean (@JamesMcC14) October 3, 2015
QUOTES CORNER
Palace boss Pardew on the form of Cabaye:
"You need someone like Cabaye to orchestrate that and I thought he was great today in everything he did. He wants to play for his national side at the Euros. I hope everyone in France was watching him today because he was excellent."
Albion's Pulis on the comparison between this performance and that of their away win at Aston Villa recently:
"When you pick the same team, I came here with high hopes. I don't know if it is confidence or whatever, but you have got to sort it out."
STATS SPECIALS
*Thanks to Opta
1005 - Yannick Bolasie has scored his first goal at Selhurst Park for 1005 days. Glad.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 3, 201515 - Fifteen of the 18 goals (for and against) in Palace's PL games this season have come in the second half. Patience.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 3, 201515 - The last time Palace had more pts after 8 games of a top-flight season was in 1990-91 (16) when they ended the campaign in 3rd. Repeat?
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 3, 2015
TEAM LEADERS
CRYSTAL PALACE
Goals - Yohan Cabaye 3
Assists - Jason Puncheon, James McArthur 2
Clean sheets - Wayne Hennessey 2
Yellow cards - Yohan Cabaye 3
WEST BROM
Goals - James Morrison, Saido Berahino 2
Assists - James Morrison 2
Clean sheets - Boaz Myhill 4
Yellow cards - Claudio Yacob 3
