Aston Villa 2 C Palace 0: Trezeguet double boosts Villans’ survival bid as Benteke sees red AFTER final whistle

ASTON VILLA kept alive their hopes of Premier League survival as Trezeguet struck twice to sink Crystal Palace.

And the Eagles not only had Mamadou Sakhos early opener ruled out by VAR but ex-Villa striker Christian Benteke saw red AFTER the final whistle – seemingly for kicking out during a mass flare-up.

Wideman Trezeguet finally delivered as he struck either side of half-time in a crucial Villa victoryCredit: EPA

Palace’s ex-Villa frotnman Christian Benteke is sent off after the final whistle Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Trezeguet nips in to seal a victory that still leaves Villa four points from safetyCredit: AP:Associated Press

Villa defender Tyrone Mings clashes with Palace centre-back Mamadou Sakho Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

After drop rivals Watford and West Ham both won 24 hours earlier nothing less then three points would have been enough for Dean Smith’s Villa to maintain realistic hopes of staying up.

And Egyptian winger Trezeguet, who has so often struggled to produce this season, decided this would be the day he turned up to be the hero with goals in each half enough to grab the victory.

Villa are still four points adrift of safety with three games remaining, but they are still in there fighting knowing the Hammers and Watford face each other next up.

Palace thought they had taken the lead just seven minutes of the game when Sakho climbed to head home Luka Milivojevic.

But the goal was erased by VAR Jon Moss – the man who awarded the controversial penalty against Villa in midweek – who ruled Sakho had handled, even though the ball appeared to loop off the top of his shoulder.

VITAL SAVES

Villa’s problem has not only been at the back, they also fail to score enough goals, and though they were so desperate for the win they rarely attacked with any quality early on.

Jack Grealish whipped in one cross from the left and found no-one bursting into the box, and another low ball in from the same area again went begging.

Wilfried Zaha struggled to get into the match in the opening quarter, then when he finally did on 27 minutes it was to get involved in a shoving match with Tyrone Mings which saw the pair both booked for their troubles.

Then soon after Villa carved out their first genuine chance, only for Mbwana Samatta to head a yard over from a good position to the howls of disappointment from the home dugout.

VAR ruled no penalty after Jack Grealish was grounded by a challenge from Patrick van Aanholt Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd

Palace star Mamadou Sakho rises to nod home but effort was ruled out by VAR Jon MossCredit: Reuters

This is the moment Patrick van Aanholt makes contact Jack Grealish but no spot-kick is givenCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd

Seven minutes later it was the turn of Grealish to go close as he met Ahmed El Mohamady’s cross first time on the volley, only for Vicente Guiata to turn the ball round the post diving low to his right.

Benteke then forced Pepe Reina into two smart saves as Palace pushed forward, and the Spanish keeper again had to be sharp to beat away a fierce drive from Zaha.

Those stops proved vital, for in the first minute of stoppage time at the end of the half Villa took the lead – Trezeguet steering home at the far post after Palace had failed to deal with Hourihane’s free-kick from the left.

Villa thought they had the ideal opportunity to double their lead when ref Martin Atkinson pointed to the spot two minutes after the break when Grealish went down after a clash with Patrick van Aanholt.

But this time Moss was not so helpful to Smith’s side, deciding replays showed Grealish had actually stood on the foot of the Palace defender.

The home side continued to d most of the pressing in the second half and Grealish was unlucky to see his free-kick saved by Guaita – but on 59 minutes the second goal they so desperately needed came.

Sakho missed his attempt to intercept a ball on the edge of the box, allowing Trezeguet in to poke his shot through the legs of Guaita into the back of the net.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk