Southampton condemned Crystal Palace to the Premier League relegation zone with a 3-1 victory at Selhust Park this afternoon.
Sadio Mane's 17th-minute opener got the ball rolling for the Saints, who were three clear shortly into the second half thanks to Ryan Bertrand and Toby Alderweireld.
Eagles defender Scott Dann headed in a late consolation for Neil Warnock's men, but it was not enough to prevent them from falling into the bottom three following a sixth straight game without victory.
Meanwhile, the three points lift Southampton above West Ham United and back into the top four.
Read Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below to relive how the action unfolded.
Afternoon, one and all, and I hope your Christmas was merry and bright. But now onto the real festive treat for football fans, the Boxing Day fixtures, of which I'm focusing on Palace vs. Southampton.
It's an important one for the hosts at Selhurst Park, who have slipped to 17th in the table following a five-match winless Premier League run. Only goal difference keeps them out of the drop zone.
Meanwhile, the Saints ended their own sequence of five matches without a win with a convincing 3-0 victory over Everton last time out, which kept them within touch of the Premier League's top four.
Let's get to the team news, starting with a home side showing defensive changes...
PALACE: Speroni; Mariappa, Dann, Delaney, Ward; Bolasie, Jedinak, McArthur, Ledley; Puncheon; Campbell
SUBS: Hennessey; Kelly, Hangeland, Bannan, Thomas, Zaha, Gayle
SOUTHAMPTON: Forster; Yoshida, Alderweireld, Gardos, Clyne; Schneiderlin, Ward-Prowse, S. Davis; Bertrand, Mane, Pelle
SUBS: K. Davis, Long, Tadic, Wanyama, Reed, McCarthy, Targett
The big news for the visitors is that Morgan Schneiderlin is back in midfield after overcoming a thigh injury. Saido Mane is also recalled, while there is a first Premier League start in defence for Florian Gardos.
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Gardos, who joined the Saints from Romanian side Steaua Buchuresti in the summer, replaces suspended skipper Jose Fonte and will partner Maya Yoshida. The versatile Toby Alderweireld moves from midfield to right-back, with Nathaniel Clyne switching flanks to the left.
It appears as though Ryan Bertrand will be asked to operate ahead of Clyne, with Dusan Tadic only fit for a place on a bench which also includes Victor Wanyama again. Shane Long and youngster Harrison Reed are alongside them as the other two drop outs from the Everton win.
Palace make two changes to the side which lost 3-0 to Man City last Saturday. Both come in defence, with Adrian Mariappa and Damien Delaney in for Brede Hangeland and Martin Kelly.
Marouane Chamakh remains out, while Jason Puncheon is preferred to Wilfried Zaha on the wing again. Frazier Campbell, who has not scored since October, is given the task of leading the line.
The respective selections make for interesting reading. Koeman is perhaps from the European mould of rotation and has left Tadic, Wanyama and Long in reserve for the visit of Chelsea on Sunday. Neil Warnock, however, knows this is a crucial game and has gone with most of his big guns.
Warnock has complained in recent weeks about his lack of a prolific goalscorer. How he would love to how Graziano Pelle at his disposal. The newly-capped Italian international has eight in 11 in 20 since joining Southampton from Feyenoord in the summer transfer window.
However, this will be the first time that Pelle has experienced the famous festive fixture period of English football, with most of the rest of Europe on their winter break. The same applies for the likes of Alderweireld, Tadic, Gardos and Mane, whereas Palace's squad are very familiar with it.
Speaking of Mane, this could be one of the last games that he plays for the Saints before he departs for Africa Cup of Nations duty with Senegal. The tournament starts in the middle of January.
RESULT: It is full time in the Boxing Day curtain raiser, with Chelsea proving too strong for London rivals at Stamford Bridge. A 2-0 victory takes them six points clear of Man City at the top.
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And next up is an octet of fabulous 3.00pm games. Here is the rest of the Premier League lineup:
Burnley vs. Liverpool
Everton vs. Stoke
Leicester vs. Spurs
Man United vs. Newcastle
Sunderland vs. Hull
Swansea vs. Aston Villa
West Brom vs. Man City
All these games are available to follow live with SM by clicking here.
Just over 10 minutes until kickoff in the capital, where Mike Dean is our referee today.
HEAD-TO-HEAD: Southampton have won their last five league games against Palace without conceding. They won 1-0 at Selhurst Park last term, where the injured Jay Rodriguez scored the winner.
ONE TO WATCH: Fit again and back in the team after over two months on the sidelines, James Ward-Prowse is another fine talent from the Southampton academy, who has so far gone under the radar of the Premier League's elite. Very tidy on the ball and a hard worker, the England Under-21 international boasts one of the best set-piece deliveries in the division.
PREDICTION: Palace are in need of the points at home, but may settle for one ahead of a huge trip to QPR. The onus may be on Southampton to force a result and I can see a 1-1 draw on the cards.
KICKOFF: We are underway at Selhurst Park, with both teams in their traditional stripes.
WOODWORK! The Saints come within inches of the most bizarre opening goal! A corner is cleared and eventually falls to Alderwiereld, who hooks hopefully back into the danger area. He gets lots on it, and Speroni suddenly has to backtrack and tip the ball onto the crossbar. The Belgian may have in fact spotted Speroni off his line and gone for an incredibly audacious lob, the distance on the effort suggests.
Gardos and Betrand are sloppy as they ball Campbell a couple of yards onside to receive a pass from McArthur. The striker drags a left-footed shot horribly wide in the manner of someone who is short of goals perhaps might. None in six for the Premier League journeyman.
My pre-match assessment of Southampton's shape wasn't quite right. They have stuck with the 5-3-2 formation which conquered Everton, with Bertrand at left-wing back and Gardos slipping into the back three. Mane is being used centrally, behind Pelle, which is what fooled me originally.
UPDATE: Early goals to tell you about from elsewhere. Spurs, Man City and Sunderland have all been quick out of the blocks and lead 1-0 against Leicester, West Brom and Hull respectively.
CHANCE! Another decent chance for Palace. The ball is moved inside from the left, and Bolasie wriggles free of Yoshida to flick the ball into the path of Puncheon. The former Saints winger hits it low and hard first time with his right foot, but the 20-yard shot is straight at Forster.
Southampton's full-backs have deservedly received great praise this year, but may have their hands full today. Bolasie has been very lively of late and judging by the early stages here, both Clyne and Bertrand are going to get a piece of him, with the winger switching flanks regularly.
GOAL! PALACE 0-1 SOUTHAMPTON (SAIDO MANE)
Southampton lead thanks to Saido Mane's second Premier League goal! It is a good one too, with Pelle winning the initial knockdown to the Senegalese. He plays a really smart one-two with Ward-Prowse, spinning away from a static Palace defence to beat the offside trap and run clear on goal. He rounds Speroni, and finishes confidently into the empty net.
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Joel Ward is lucky to escape a yellow card for a late lunge on Clyne, who of course is returning to his former club. The England right-back left Palace to join Southampton upon their 2012 promotion.
UPDATE: More Premier League goals to tell you about. Man United have gone ahead against Newcastle and Swansea the same versus Villa. Man City were two up on West Brom inside 13 minutes. Burnley vs. Liverpool and Everton vs. Stoke the only goalless games currently. Could be a great MOTD!
Mane nearly gets in behind again. A long punt forward causes confusion between Dann and Delaney, and a mistimed header backwards nearly sends the goalscorer through before the flag is raised.
Full Premier League debutant Gardos is penalised for a coming together with Bolaise. The Palace man was travelling at pace and perhaps ran into the Romanian more than anything. A little harsh on a player who was sent off in his last outing - the League Cup loss to Sheffield United.
SAVE! From the resultant free kick, Palace tee up Jedinak for a pop from a wide angle out left. His strike takes a deflection and skids off the surface, but Forster shows good hands to gather.
The Eagles take aim from range again. They work the ball out nicely to Ward, whose cross is behind the three bodies in the box. It is only poked clear to Ledley 25 yards out, but the midfielder weakly lifts the ball over the crossbar, having been unable to adjust his feet and generate power.
Smart defending from Yoshida, who gets in front of Campbell in the six yard box to prevent him from reaching a cross which was delivered by Bolasie, after he had tricked his way to the left byline.
HALF-TIME: PALACE 0-1 SOUTHAMPTON
My sincere apologies for the lack of updates on the approach to the break, we have been battling with some technical difficulties. Let me attempt to summarise the final 15 first-half minutes...
Palace certainly finished the opening 45 the stronger and got some real joy down their right flank. Forster dealt way with a succession of corners which were fizzed into his box, and the Saints survived with only affording Puncheon and Bolasie half-chances. Ward-Prowse threatened for the visitors with a header, but they will be glad to get to half time ahead as the Eagles were starting to build some momentum.
Let me remind you exactly how Southampton took that lead. Mane collected a Pelle knockdown before smartly exchanging passes with Ward-Prowse, rounding Speroni and finishing confidently. It was the Senegalese winger's second Premier League goal since his £10m summer arrival.
STATS: Palace really came back into the possession stakes at the end of that half, but Southampton have still seen more of the ball with 56%. Five corners and eight shots for the visitors are more than the Saints can boast and are a reflection of how they got on top prior to the interval.
KICKOFF: We are back underway at Selhusrt Park, with both sides unchanged.
GOAL! PALACE 0-2 SOUTHAMPTON (RYAN BETRAND)
Southampton take less than three minutes of the second half to double their lead! Mane is involved again as he beautifully turns away from Ward in the right corner and travels into the box. His cutback is meant for Pelle, whose failure to make contact allows left-back Bertrand to meet it with an emphatic first-time finish, with his weaker right foot. Speroni had no chance. The Saints started brightly after the restart and have now firmly quelled a Palace charge which was on the cards at the end of the first half.
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SUBSTITUTION: Warnock immediately responds to going two down by bringing on Dwight Gayle for Campbell. There are rumours of a hamstring problem for the departing striker.
GOAL! PALACE 0-3 SOUTHAMPTON (TOBY ALDERWEIRELD)
Southampton kill this game off with a second goal in eight second-half minutes. This may be the goal which frustrates Warnock the most. Managers of his ilk hate conceding from set pieces, and it is from a perfect Ward-Prowse corner which Alderweireld powers a thumping header past Speroni.
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This is certainly not what Warnock would have been wanting from a Boxing Day home game which should have had Selhust Park rocking. The atmospheric fortress which existed under Tony Pulis last season seems to be no more and they need to rediscover it very quickly.
SUBSTITUTION: Wanyama comes on for Davis, with the points almost sealed already. He hands the armband over to Schneiderlin as he leaves the pitch. Do not be surprised to see Koeman take the chance to save more of his regulars ahead of a series of difficult upcoming games.
Unnecessary showmanship in his own half from Pelle gifts Palace a free kick which is floated to the back post. Jedinak nods back across goal, but Alderweireld heads clear from the danger zone.
CHANCE! Another excellent delivery, this time from Puncheon cutting in from the right, supplies Gayle with a difficult headed chance at the back post, which Gardos stretches out a leg to divert away.
It may seem as if there are signs of life in Palace, but Southampton still look a threat. Their movement in the final third is excellent, although Mane is crowded out in the box on this occasion.
SUBSTITUTION: Warnock uses his last attacking substitute by throwing on Zaha for Ledley.
CLOSE! Mane is so unfortunate not to have a second. After fooling two Palace defenders with the subtlest of movements, he tries to bend a shot into the top corner from 25 yards. A worried Speroni is scrambling as it flies just a couple of yards over the crossbar. Great effort.
SUBSTITUTION: Palace's final change sees Martin Kelly replace Bolasie. The home crowd meet this decision with boos and shouts of: "You don't know what you're doing," but it seems that Warnock has given this one up and is saving his best player for the crucial trip to QPR.
SUBSTITUTION: Koeman has the same pattern of thought and spares Pelle the final 20 minutes or so. Shane Long is on his place to spearhead the attack and will have a goal in his sights.
UPDATE: An overdue Premier League update to bring you: Burnley 0-1 Liverpool; Everton 0-1 Stoke; Leicester 1-2 Spurs; Man United 3-0 Newcastle; Sunderland 1-2 Hull; Swansea 1-0 Villa; West Brom 0-3 Man City. Around fifteen minutes left in all of these 3.00pm kickoffs.
BOOKING: Exhibition stuff from the Saints now, with Ward-Prowse returning the ball to Clyne with an outrageous back-heel. The marauding full-back beats three Palace players to the pass and is tripped by Delaney on his way to the byline. Yellow card for the Eagles defender.
Fraser Forster has had a sold game for the Saints. He has not been stretched by any Palace shots, but he has had to use all of his towering frame to deal with set pieces and done it extremely well.
Wanyama picks up a loose ball and drives 50 yards with the ball, through four Palace bodies. His through ball to Long is just the wrong side of the Irishman, who had set off on his run a bit early.
Zaha's clever skill takes him away from Bertrand and the Saints full-back is forced to pull him down and concede a free kick. A chance for some Christmas cheer at least for the home fans.
GOAL! PALACE 1-3 SOUTHAMPTON (SCOTT DANN)
Right on cue! The Eagles have plenty of men over at the back post and it is Dann who climbs above Wanyama to meet Jedinak's delivery and head down right into the bottom corner. Palace's fans at least having something to celebrate back at their Boxing Day buffets.
Great knock to the back post by Ward, and Palace's other full-back Kelly is up highest after making a surging run into the box. Gardos reacts quickest to the loose ball and hooks away from danger.
SUBSTITUTION: Teenage academy graduate Jason McCarthy comes on for a Premier League debut for the Saints, replacing Clyne, who gets a standing ovation all round.
Forster holds on to a curling McArthur shot as we enter FOUR minutes of added time.
FULL-TIME: PALACE 1-3 SOUTHAMPTON
Boxing Day celebrations for Southampton, who are back on the winning trail and in the Premier League's top four thanks to consecutive victories. They leapfrog West Ham in the table, while Palace drop into the relegation zone after a disappointing home defeat.
Sadio Mane's well-taken opener in the 17th minute put the visitors on their way, and two goals from defenders Ryan Bertrand and Toby Alderweireld in the first eight minutes of the second half put them well clear. Scott Dann's late header was nothing more than a Palace consolation.
That's it from me for now, but analysis and reaction from this match and all of the other 3pm Premier League kickoffs will be on SM soon. Stay tuned for that, or join us for live coverage of Arsenal vs. QPR. Either way, enjoy the rest of your Christmas leftovers. Goodbye!
Written by
Joe Fish
Joe Fish
