SAM VOKES
Ashley Barnes' stoppage time winner claimed a famous win for Burnley and denied Crystal
Palace a superb come-from-behind point.
Christian Benteke pulled Palace back from the dead with a
late penalty that looked to have given both teams a share of the spoils after
sub Connor Whickham had helped Palace's cause when he pulled a goal back with
his first touch in the 60th minute after a shell-shock start that saw them 2-0
down after just 14 minutes.
Old hand Sam Vokes had shocked Palace with a goal after only
80 seconds at 'Fortress' Turf Moor.
Matt Lowton's cross-field pass to Johann
Gudmondsson was returned with precision and Lowton's shot was just kept out by
Scott Dann, only for Vokes to leap in to tap home from close range - his fourth
strike of the season.
After 14 minutes, things got worse for Palace, who haven't
kept a clean sheet all season. Quick-thinking Vokes set him free down the
middle, and Gudmundsson hit a fierce shot, which keeper Steve Mandanda looked
to have covered.
But the big Frenchman could only Palm down the ball instead
of holding, and it bounced against the ground and over him into the roof of the
net.
Two down and less than quarter of an hour on the clock. In
attack, Palace threatened on the break, but were denied by wonder keeper Tom
Heaton, hero of Old Trafford last week where he made 11 first-class saves.
This time he kept out efforts from Wilfried Zaha and then
Benteke, before he was beaten by sub Connor Wickham on the hour.
Wickham - on for Jason Puncheon in an effort to get a
breakthrough - managed to get just ahead of Burnley defender Michael Keane to
steer home with his first touch of the game, giving Heaton no chance.
Benteke thought he'd earned the Eagles a point to take back
to London, but Barnes had other ideas to snatch another priceless win as Sean
Dyche's men edge towards safety.
1. Palace
defensive woes continue
It's not exactly the record you want, but Palace have now
gone 16 Premier League games without a clean sheet. What a rotten start for the
Eagles who fancied turning things round at Turf Moor for once.
Within 80 seconds, they had conceded again as Sam Vokes
netted with a simple tap-in after Palace's defence was all at sea under
Burnley's full-on pressure from the start. Within 14 minutes, the South Londoners
were in deeper defensive trouble as they conceded yet again.
There seemed little understanding between Scott Dann and
Damien Delaney as Icelandic International Johann Gudmondsson sliced through to
unleash a fierce drive. Spare a thought for exposed keeper Steve Mandanda, who
managed to palm down, the ball then bouncing up and past him into the roof of
the net.
Poor goalkeeping, but poor defending too. Palace in big
trouble at the back. Watch out for moves by Alan Pardew in the January sales.
He's already looking at loan signings from Chelsea, who have defenders
frustrated at being left out.
2. One to
watch
It's taken some time for Jon Flanagan to break into
Burnley's starting line-up, and even then he needed regular full-back Stephen
Ward to be injured But 23-year-old Flanagan needs to make up for lost time
during his season-long loan from Liverpool.
Under Brendan Rodgers at Anfield, he was part of the 'nearly
men' who pressed hard. Then he suffered from a serious knee injury and managed
only eight appearances last season.
Now, he's clearly determined to make up for lost time at
Burnley and he put in a very decent shift at Left-back.
3. Still
Puncheon holes
Jason Puncheon has seen it all, featuring in every division
in the league - and still going strong. At 30, he might have lost a little bit
of the swagger, but boy can he pass.
With Palace's she'll-shock start, Pardew pulled him back
into the middle two of his 4-2-3-1 formation to take advantage of Puncheon's
ability to prompt attacking moves.
His raking left footers were a joy to watch, even though
Burnley's up-and-at- 'em approach kept Palace's forwards in check for long
spells, even if it was harem- scarem too.
4. Marney
the machine
Dean Marney may often be the unsung hero pulling the strings
in midfield for Burnley, but with Belgian International playmaker Steven Defour
back in the side, Marney was freed up to be trouble-maker in chief.
The former Hull City man was on to everything that moved and
broke up Palace's attacking moves time and again. Negative vibes - but hugely
effective as Burnley defended their early two-goal lead.
Inevitably, Marney went into the Ref's book early on - but
it didn't stop him continuing his killer role.
5. Palace
must do business in January
With Palace's defence clearly not up to scratch or gelling,
watch out for moves by Alan Pardew to stop the rot.
With the January sales imminent, Pard's will probably try
for loan moves to tempt Premier League clubs to off-load their surplus
defenders.
Pards has denied interest in Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic,
but don't hold your breath.
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