As Crystal Palace won their third straight game and relegated profligate Southampton to the basement of the Premier League standings, Eberechi Eze scored twice.
Gavin Bazunu, the goalkeeper for the opposition, deflected Jordan Ayew’s shot into his path, setting up Eze to score from the rebound and serve as the spark for Palace.
His second goal was a perfect finish into the bottom corner as he turned away from his opponent.
Crystal Palace destroy Leeds to boost survival bid
We told him, “We think we will get the best out of you in the way we are going to try and play, so all you really have to do is be Eberechi Eze,” interim Palace manager Roy Hodgson stated on BBC Sport.
“I think that message was a straightforward one, but one that he gladly absorbed, and [in] these last three games we have seen the real Ebs that we saw when he first came to the club,” said the author.
Crystal Palace have won their first game in 2023
Kamaldeen Sulemana missed with a header for Southampton during the opening period of play, but they were unable to convert on their opportunities.
Clinical Eze secures the win
Similar to their 5-1 victory over Leeds the previous Saturday, Crystal Palace struggled to keep up in the first half.
After two minutes, Cheick Doucoure shot over the bar, but the opposition did not have a shot on goal in the opening 45 minutes.
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The Eagles, on the other hand, remained solid on defense and put on a skillful performance in the second half.
More than any other Crystal Palace player, Eze has now scored seven Premier League goals this year.
“He had a very good second half,” said Hodgson. He handled the ball really well as it came in, was turning his opponent, and had the speed and strength to run away once we managed to locate him in those positions where we did against Leeds.
After yet another strong showing on the road, Palace, who are still in 12th place, are beginning to lose hope of being demoted.
