Southampton travelled to Crystal Palace this afternoon having never lost to them in the Premier League.
Jay Rodriguez gave them a 37th-minute advantage after intercepting a weak header from Jason Puncheon to run through on goal, win a 50-50 with the outrushing Julian Speroni and sweep the ball into the net.
The visitors nearly doubled their lead before the break when Rickie Lambert shot with the outside of his foot against the post, and Palace then began very quickly after the restart as they pushed for an equaliser.
Despite an improved Eagles display, Saints keeper Artur Boruc remained largely untested and Mauricio Pochettino's men comfortably held on for a club-record sixth away win of the top-flight season.
Below, you can read how the action unfolded at Selhurst Park, courtesy of SM's live text coverage.
Afternoon, all. The FA Cup quarter-finals take centre stage this weekend, but there is still half a Premier League lineup, which includes Southampton's trip to Crystal Palace at 3pm today.
The Saints have not lost in any of their nine Premier League matches with Palace and have won their last three matches against them in all competitions by a scoreline of 2-0.
However, Palace have won three out of their last four matches at home and Selhurst Park has proved somewhat of a fortress since Tony Pulis took over the managerial reins last year.
Team news coming your way shortly...
PALACE: Speroni; Ward, Dann, Delaney, Moxey; Dikgacoi, Jedinak, Ledley; Puncheon, Bolasie, Murray
SUBS: Hennessey, Gabbidon, Bannan, Thomas, Ince, Gayle, Jerome
SOUTHAMPTON: Boruc; Clyne, Fonte, Lovren, Shaw; Cork, Schneiderlin, S. Davis; Lallana, Rodriguez, Lambert
SUBS: Gazzaniga, Yoshida, Ramírez, Wanyama, Ward-Prowse, Chambers, Gallagher
Six days after scoring his first Premier League goal, Glenn Murray is promoted to the Palace starting XI to lead their attack as Pulis reverts to a 4-5-1 formation in the absence of Marouane Chamakh.
Murray, who missed nine months of action with a cruciate knee ligament injury, came off the bench to score the only goal of the game from the penalty spot to earn them a 1-1 draw at Swansea.
Chamakh, who, along with Jerome Thomas, was fined by Pulis this week for acts of simulation at the Liberty Stadium, is suffering from a hamstring problem which keeps him out today.
Elsewhere there are two more changes for Palace, who recall former Saints winger Jason Puncheon in place of Tom Ince and swap Jonathan Parr for Dean Moxey on the left side of their defence.
Joe Ledley and Kagisho Dikgacoi were injury doubts going into today's match, but both have passed fitness tests to feature in a three-man midfield which includes ever-consistent captain Mile Jedinak.
Just the one change for Southampton as Mauricio Pochettino prefers one promising English full-back to another, with Calum Chambers dropping to the bench to make way for Nathaniel Clyne.
The Saints' four current Three Lions internationals, Luke Shaw and Adam Lallana, both of whom featured in the win over Denmark at Wembley, and Rickie Lambert and Jay Rodriguez all start.
Dejan Lovren and Gaston Ramirez have both recently returned from ankle ligament damage and while the Croatian continues at centre back, there is again no start for Ramirez in midfield.
The South Coast club were on the receiving end of a convincing 3-0 home defeat to Liverpool last weekend, but Pochettino has put his faith in 10 of same 11 players to bounce back with a result.
HEAD-TO-HEAD: As we have already touched upon, recent history in this fixture reflects kindly on Southampton. A goal apiece from Lambert and the now departed Dani Osvaldo earlier in the season earned the Saints their third consecutive 2-0 victory over Palace.
WORLD CUP WATCH: Lallana's impressive cameo off the bench has all but sealed his place in the squad to Brazil. Luke Shaw is still in competition with Ashley Cole for the second left-back spot and thus will be looking to continue his good club form until May, while Lambert and Rodriguez are very much in contention to make the plane. Realistically, Palace won't have any Three Lions representation at the World Cup, and the darkest of dark horses, Tom Ince, is only on the bench today.
Just under 15 minutes until kickoff here at Selhurst Park...
RESULTS: We have already had one Premier League result this afternoon. In the early kickoff, Manchester United secured a morale-boosting 3-0 win at West Bromwich Albion to stretch the Baggies' winless run under Pepe Mel to seven games. Meanwhile, a late brace from Olivier Giroud helped Arsenal breeze past Everton in the FA Cup quarter-final. Could this be the year for the Gunners?
Southampton have lost their last three games in all competitions and there is a slight danger of a season that started very brightly fizzling out. Whatever happens today, they will remain ninth in the table, and European qualification is now beyond them. Palace have it all to play for, though...
With some of their rivals, including 18th-place Sunderland, in FA Cup action this weekend, Palace have the chance to move six points clear of the relegation zone with victory this afternoon.
ONE TO WATCH: Glenn Murray was out of action for a long time and his timely return could be a massive boost for Palace's battle against the drop. He was their top scorer as they were promoted via the playoffs last season and a handful more goals could be enough for the Eagles to stay up.
PREDICTION: It hasn't quite been going Southampton's way of late, and Palace are picking up regular wins at home. I fancy them to pinch this one by a single goal, 1-0 perhaps.
We are underway in South London...
Murray has an early sighter, but slices an effort from just outside the box over the crossbar, which is his first shot off target in the Premier League. The 30-year-old scored 31 goals last season.
Rodriguez makes a clever run into the left channel, but Ward, whose Portsmouth connections are seeing him booed by the travelling fans, forces him wide and eventually wins the throw in.
Davis drills a precise ball onto the head of Rodriguez near the far post, and he cushions it into Lambert, who returns the favour before Rodriguez's shot is blocked. It falls to Lallana, who was offside anyway, in the middle and he pokes goalwards, forcing Speroni to save.
This is Nathaniel Clyne's first return to Selhurst Park since he left the Eagles to join Southampton the summer before last. The full-back made 137 appearances for his boyhood club.
Southampton have had nearly 70% of the ball in the early stages, but not in areas from where they can hurt Palace. In-fact, they nearly get themselves into trouble here playing out from the back.
Bolasie blocks Clyne's cushioned header inside with his arm to give the Saints a free kick by the right touchline. It is seldom their style, but this is a good chance for them to launch the ball into the box.
Davis's corner is returned to him by the defender at the near post. The midfielder stands up a second cross into a decent area, but Speroni comes off his line to make an easy catch under no pressure.
Palace gain some territory, managing to keep the ball in the Saints half for a couple of minutes. Good hold up play from Murray earns the Eagles a corner which Ward will deliver from the left.
Nice, quick passing from Southampton in the final third as Lallana, Lambert and Cork exchange passes, with the latter advancing into the box only to be foiled by a strong tackle from Delaney.
Cork releases Clyne with a lofted ball down the right flank, but Bolasie gets back to thwart the Saints man. Bolasie has done good defensive work so far, but we have seen nothing of him going forward.
Murray climbs high to win a knockdown that falls to Ledley, but he is forced away from goal. He lays it back to Puncheon who tries to create room for a shot, but is outmuscled by Schneiderlin.
Southampton charge up the other end as Lallana carries the ball. He comes inside from the right channel and slips in Rodriguez, who tries to shoot across goal but is denied by Dann's sliding block.
Cork, who has started 14 of Southampton's last 15 Premier League games since the injury to Victor Wanyama, is down and needs attention from the physio on what looks to be a foot problem.
SUBSTITUTION: Pochettino is forced into a first-half change following the injury to Cork, who is unable to continue. Wanyama is on in his place in midfield and will provide a more physical presence.
Ledley's corner is flicked clear by Lovren, and Bolasie chases it down. He knocks it back to Puncheon to whip in a delicious left-footed cross, but Fonte heads behind under pressure from Murray.
GOAL! PALACE 0-1 SOUTHAMPTON (JAY RODRIGUEZ)
Southampton take the lead thanks in part to a mistake from their former player Jason Puncheon! The visitors pump a corner clear and Rodriguez chases after the backtracking Puncheon, whose header to Moxey is short. Rodriguez nips in and knocks the ball clear of the Palace defenders. Speroni charges out but the Saints striker stays brave as both he and the Eagles keeper go in with their feet for a 50-50. Rodriguez's determination is rewarded as he comes out with the ball, and then sweeps it home from a grounded position for his 11th Premier League goal of the season.
It ended up being a pretty scrappy opening goal, but Rodriguez deserves huge credit for his bravery. Many strikers would have shirked the tackle when seeing the opposition goalkeeper rush out at full pace, but the England international did not and he got his just rewards with the goal.
Palace boss Pulis will no doubt be frustrated to go behind in that manner, but he can take heart from the fact that Southampton have lost more points [15] from winning positions than any other Premier League team this season. We are yet to see a response, though, from Palace since they went behind.
Lallana picks out Davis with a clever reverse pass. The Irishman has so much space that you wouldn't believe it. All he has to do was pick out a man, but he dwells on the ball before poking it hopefully against Speroni. Rodriguez was at the back post. Maybe there were too many Palace shirts in the way.
WOODWORK! In the first of THREE minutes of added time, Southampton come within inches of a second as Lambert shoots with the outside of his right foot against the bottom of the post!
BOOKING: Jose Fonte becomes the first player to enter Howard Webb's notebook this afternoon as he is cautioned for tripping Joe Ledley, with Palace attempting to launch a quick counter.
SAVE! The resulting free kick is eventually cleared to the edge of the area, where Bolasie meets the ball with a powerful low drive which Boruc does well to hold onto with Murray lurking.
HALF-TIME: PALACE 0-1 SOUTHAMPTON
That was a really fast-paced end to the first half, with Rodriguez and Shaw also having half chances before Mr Webb blew the whistle for the break with Southampton leading 1-0 at Selhurst Park.
That was a really fast-paced end to the first half, with Rodriguez and Shaw also having half chances before Mr Webb blew the whistle for the break with Southampton leading 1-0 at Selhurst Park.
Rodriguez was the man who put the Saints ahead on 37 minutes, as he showed anticipation, pace, bravery and then composure to capitalise on Jason Puncheon's weak back header.
That effort would have impressed Roy Hodgson, who is no doubt keeping an eye on Southampton's crop of England talent from somewhere today. Another of his Three Lions, Rickie Lambert, nearly doubled his side's advantage when he struck the post with an outside-of-the-foot shot in stoppage time. The closest Palace came was Yannick Bolasie's shot, which was well held by Artur Boruc.
STATS: That effort by Bolasie was Palace's only shot on target, while Southampton have managed one more. They have had a massive 69% possession in the opening 45 minutes, but the hosts do lead the corner count with five to two, and they have looked slightly dangerous from their set pieces.
We are back underway at Selhurst Park...
Palace get an early corner in this second half which Ward delivers. Boruc's punch is weak and falls to Puncheon, who, when trying to guide the ball back into the danger area, only finds the Pole's gloves.
BOOKING: Controversy here as Howard Webb shows Lovren a yellow card for bringing down Bolasie, but some Palace players think it should be red! For the first time this afternoon, Bolasie displays his ability to run with the ball, beating two Saints men before last man Lovren brings him down five yards outside of the area. Clyne was coming round on the cover and that is why the referee sensibly only punished the Croatian with a booking. It was not a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Bolasie's good work ends up counting for nothing as Jedinak blazes the resulting free kick high into the stands. Puncheon was over it too and might stake his claim more firmly next time.
Bolasie embarks on another run and wriggles away from Clyne with a lovely bit of skill, but another former Eagles defender Fonte comes across to make an important tackle as he entered the box.
BOOKING: Pulis will be very pleased with how Palace have started this second half, and another venture forward forces Davis into tugging back Ledley. He gets yellow carded.
Ward dinks a free kick from a central position into the box, Jedinak heads it across goal only for Davis to hoof away. Moments later, Murray goes to ground, but under a fair challenge from Wanyama.
CLOSE! At the other end, Southampton have a free kick of their own. From 25 yards out, left of centre, set-piece specialist Lambert whips a pacey shot over the wall but starts it on the wrong line as it bends a few yards wide. Good effort, though, and Speroni briefly looked troubled.
Palace continue to push the Saints backwards, but the visitors have a chance to counter through Shaw. It is a chance wasted, though, as the left-back sloppily passes straight to Moxey.
After Cork's injury in the first half, it is now Palace's turn to sweat on an injured player with blood pouring out of the nose of defender Damien Delaney as he leaves the pitch for treatment.
Clever stuff from Southampton this. They are slowing the play down in an attempt to halt Palace's momentum. Good keep ball across the back line as Palace's midfielders tire of chasing down.
BOOKING: Southampton's yellow card count rises to four now as Schneiderlin enters the book. He dives in with his studs showing on Jedinak, but does get most of the ball. Howard Webb is in a great position and again errs on the side of caution by not pulling out red. Good decision.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Double change for Palace as Cameron Jerome and Tom Ince replace Puncheon and Dikgacoi, who has hardly had a touch. That will be a change of shape from the hosts, with Jerome joining Murray, who is understandably flagging on his return to the starting XI, up front.
Southampton break through Davis and, without Dikgacoi shielding the back four, they have the numbers advantage over Palace. Again, though, Davis cannot pick out the right pass as his ball behind Lallana slows play down, and eventually Wanyama gives away possession even more sloppily.
SHOT! Shaw shows his explosive pace to charge forward from left-back before drifting inside and firing in a low shot which Speroni gets his full body behind at the near post.
SUBSTITUTION: Pochettino introduces some fresh legs up front, swapping Lambert for England u19 international Sam Gallagher, who makes his fourth Premier League appearance of the season.
Talking of fresh legs, with Murray short of match sharpness, Jerome has provided that for Palace. He chases down Wanyama, who keeps his cool under pressure on the edge of his own area.
Good defending from Fonte. Dann smartly releases Jedinak down the right channel, and the Aussie quickly switches the play with a great volleyed pass to Murray. He attempts to cut inside, but is nudged away from goal by Fonte, who then sticks his toe in to prod the ball away.
SUBSTITUTION: Pulis's final throw of the dice is to bring on Jerome Thomas in place of Bolasie as Palace push for an equaliser with about 10 minutes, including stoppage time, remaining in London.
Pulis will have been pleased with how his side started this second half, but they have since failed to create much of any note. Boruc certainly has not been tested severely in the Saints goal.
Thomas cuts in off the left flank and crosses deep to Jerome at the back post. The offside flag is promptly raised as he heads towards goal for Boruc to make what was a simple catch anyway.
SUBSTITUTION: Here comes a final time-wasting change from Pochettino as Davis jogs off slowly to be replaced by fellow midfielder James Ward-Prowse for the final minutes at Selhurst Park.
There will be FOUR minutes of stoppage time. Can Palace level things late on?
After Rodriguez admirably tracked back to keep up with Ledley, his rash clearance gives Palace a corner, but towering headed clearances from Fonte and Wanyama dispel the danger for now.
More good running from Rodriguez in the left channel helps the Saints waste more precious seconds on the clock. The former Burnley man looks like being the match winner this afternoon.
Thomas sends in another cross from deep on the left, but it drifts over Jedinak and Shaw watches it go out of play for a goal kick. That should just about be that for the Saints.
FULL-TIME: PALACE 0-1 SOUTHAMPTON
So, Jay Rodriguez scores the only goal of the game to see Southampton end a run of three straight defeats in all competitions and inflict a second straight home loss on Palace.
Mauricio Pochettino's side remain ninth in the table despite the three points, while Crystal Palace are still firmly in the relegation mix in 16th place ahead of their big clash with Sunderland next week.
That's it from me. Thanks for joining Sports Mole this afternoon and be sure to stay with us for the huge London derby between Chelsea and Spurs at Stamford Bridge. Until next time...
Written by
Joe Fish
Joe Fish
