Crystal Palace captain Scott Dann hailed Cheikhou Kouyate after victory over Southampton.

Palace made a winning start to the 2020-21 Premier League season as a volley by Wilfried Zaha proved enough to sink Southampton.

The Ivory Coast forward, who has repeatedly been linked with a move away from Selhurst Park, was unmarked when he produced a clinical finish from Andros Townsend's impressive cross.

Nathan Redmond wasted a great chance following a slick Southampton move, while Palace keeper Vicente Guaita produced an excellent save to keep out a volley by Che Adams.

Saints defender Kyle Walker-Peters had a red card downgraded to a yellow in the second half after referee Jonathan Moss reviewed his foul on Tyrick Mitchell on the pitch-side monitor.

Moss had already shown the former Tottenham player a red card before leaving the pitch to review the challenge on the screen.

Afterwards, Dann declared: "We finished last season on the wrong foot. We've been working in pre season to make sure we start in a different manner. The performance and points were very important going forward.

"It was a good defensive performance from the front all the way through. Our keeper made good saves at important times. We scored a great goal and perhaps could have killed it off.

"Cheikhou Kouyate is a top player and he showed what he is capable of in the back four.

"After lockdown last season Southampton picked up really well, had a lot of energy and pressed from the front and we felt we could capitalise on that.

"We've had a decent defensive record in recent seasons but maybe not scored enough goals to get us further up the league but we have more options now and hopefully they can fire us like today."