JEFFREY SCHLUPP fired Palace to a famous win as they played with 10 men for SEVENTY-ONE MINUTES.
Things looked bleak for the Eagles when their defender Mamadou Sakho was sent off for a foul on Adam Smith with only 19 minutes played.
Jeffrey Schlupp’s late winner grabbed all three points for ten man PalaceCredit: Reuters
The Ghanaian’s strike rocketed past RamsdaleCredit: Reuters
But super sub Schlupp came off the bench to seal Palace’s victory with a late strike – just as he did in their 2-0 win at Burnley on Saturday.
It was only the eighth goal the South Londoners had scored in eight home matches in the Prem this season.
And with those eight matches at Selhurst producing a paltry 13 goals in total, it was no wonder this clash was being screened live on Amazon, not Netflix.
Bournemouth have now lost their last four matches and boss Eddie Howe must be wondering how much further he can take them.
As for Palace, after five games without a win, they have now recorded back-to-back victories – something that looked unlikely when they went down to 10 men.
With Scott Dann joining fellow defenders Joel Ward and Gary Cahill on the Eagles casualty list after injuring his ankle in their 2-0 win at Burnley on Saturday, Sakho was handed his first start since September.
But the French centre-back lasted just 19 minutes after ref Anthony Taylor, with the approval of VAR Chris Kavanagh, showed him a straight red card for a wild challenge on Cherries right-back Smith – much to the disgust of Palace fans.
It was certainly reckless and, frustratingly for the hosts, needless.
There were jubilant scenes at Selhurst Park when the winner went inCredit: PA:Press Association
Schlupp came off the bench to score the winnerCredit: Reuters
There is no doubt Sakho played the ball as he launched it clear after intercepting Smith’s throw in down the line.
But his boot caught the Cherries defender above the knee on the follow-through.
Smith, who has faced accusations of diving and feigning injury on a couple of occasions previously in his career, did his opponent no favours by rolling around the turf in ‘agony’ – which had miraculously disappeared by the time Sakho had left the field to walk down the tunnel and play restarted.
But you cannot get away with challenges like that in the modern game.
Ring-rusty Sakho, who had looked a yard off the pace, possibly paid the price for a lack of first-team action in the past two months.
His premature departure meant it was going to be a long night for the Eagles.
And Bournemouth almost made them pay immediately when Chris Mepham’s shot bounced into the arms of Eagles keeper Vicente Guaita with the home fans’ boos at the sending off still ringing around the ground.
Things got even worse for Palace as left-back Patrick van Aanholt limped off with a suspected hamstring injury.
If the South Londoners suffer any more injuries in defence they will have to consider bringing Jim Cannon out of retirement.
Philip Billing had a shot saved just before the break and Dominic Solanke was just inches away from converting Harry Wilson’s cross four minutes after it.
Mamadou Sakho saw red for a horror high tackle on Adam SmithCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The defender studs slammed into Smith’s knee
But despite having a lot of the ball, Bournemouth found it difficult to find their way through Palace’s resolute rejigged defence.
Cherries chief Eddie Howe has been widely tipped to manage a top-four club in the future.
It would be a huge leap from Bournemouth and you feel he would have to make the step up to a slightly bigger club in-between.
He has been linked with several jobs in the last couple of seasons, the latest being Everton.
Whether or not that comes to fruition, we are surely approaching the time in the next year or two when Howe will have to say farewell to the seaside and take the plunge elsewhere.
Or he could end up missing the boat altogether.
But while Howe is one of the brightest young bosses in the game, his opposite number Roy Hodgson continues to confound the critics at the age of 72 and three quarters.
The job he has done at Palace in the aftermath of his England debacle is in its own way as every bit impressive as Howe’s at Bournemouth.
Hodgson was rightly pleased with the way his team played with 10 men.
And they were unlucky not to get a penalty when Mepham appeared to push over Wilfried Zaha in the box.
But ref Taylor once again incurred the wrath of the Eagles fans by waving play-on.
Palace kept going though and were rewarded when sub Schlupp went on a solo run from just inside the visitors half, going past two defenders before drilling a low shot past keeper Aaron
Ramsdale – who should have done better – and into the bottom far corner.
The Eagles nearly added a second moments later, but Cherries’ England Under-21 stopper Ramsdale redeemed himself by tipping James McArthur’s 25-yard curler over the bar.
Palace keeper Guaita then had to dive to his right to keep out Jefferson Lerma’s long-range shot.
Smith was in agony after the dangerous tackleCredit: AFC Bournemouth – Getty
Crystal Palace fans held up signs in protest against Amazon’s broadcasting of the gameCredit: Reuters
Eddie Howe cut a frustrated figure at Selhurst ParkCredit: Getty Images – Getty
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
