ASTON VILLA jumped up to sixth in the Premier League table after easily dispatching Crystal Palace on home soil.
Despite going down to ten men just before half-time following Tyrone Mings’ dismissal, Dean Smith’s men never looked like throwing away their 1-0 lead.
Bertrand Traore opened the scoring for Aston Villa against Crystal PalaceCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Villa raced into an early lead after Bertrand Traore fired home from close range in the fifth minute.
And they would have been two goals up going into the break had Jack Grealish not been denied by Eagles goalkeeper Vicente Guaita.
But the home side were reduced to ten men in the 44th minute after Mings was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Wilfried Zaha.
Villa failed to sit back in the second half as they continued to press, and their efforts paid off when Kortney Hause headed home in the 66th minute.
And the three points was secured ten minutes later when Anwar El Ghazi found the back of the net with a beautiful curling strike from an acute angle.
The Midlands outfit have now won their last two games in the top-flight.
Kortney Hause put the Villans 2-0 up after heading home in the 66th minuteCredit: EPA
Traore wheeled away in delight after firing home from close range at Villa ParkCredit: AFP
Hause was mobbed by his jubilant team-mates after his goalCredit: EPA
Tempers flared between Tyrone Mings and Wilfried Zaha as they threatened to come to blowsCredit: Reuters
Meanwhile Palace have failed to win any of their last four fixtures.
Dean Smith knew it was crucial for Villa to win today as they face Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham in their next three league games.
Palace also have three tough matches ahead, as they have Leicester, Sheffield United and Arsenal next up.
Mings was then shown a second yellow card for a foul on Zaha just before the half-time whistleCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Eagles goalkeeper Vicente Guaita prevented Jack Grealish from doubling the Villans’ leadCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Anwar El Ghazi scored the pick of the goals for Villa in their 3-0 victoryCredit: AFP
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
