Southampton have lost four of their last five following a 1-0 defeat by Crystal Palace

Ronald Koeman changed his formation and starting line-up in an attempt to end a run of four matches without a victory, but it became a fourth defeat in five with Yohan Cabeye’s first half goal the difference between the teams.

• Crystal Palace 1-0 Southampton - in pictures >>
• Crystal Palace 1-0 Southampton - match report >>
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Saints toiled all afternoon and finally got a great chance with virtually the last kick of the match but Shane Long’s shot was straight at Wayne Hennessey who made the save.

The new look formation of five at the back felt very defensive, though the thought process was clear, as Saints tried to keep things tight, invite Palace on, and then hit them on the break with their pace up front.

Virgil van Dijk was the right of the three centre halves with Jose Fonte in the middle and Maya Yoshida on the left.

Shane Long started as a lone frontman with Sadio Mane in a slightly deeper role while Steven Davis was somewhere in between those two and the defensive midfield duo of Victor Wanyama and Oriol Romeu.

Wilfried Zaha created the first moment of any kind of panic in the Saints backline on seven minutes as his inviting whipped low cross from the left had to be turned behind by Cedric Soares with Jason Puncheon lurking just behind.

As the half wore on Saints started to settle into their new shape.

Though they were not overly threatening in attack, they were keeping the ball a lot better and had a very solid foundation at the back.

With openings at a premium, Palace were frustrated to see Yohan Cabaeye’s right wing free kick flash across the box in a dangerous position but nobody anywhere near getting to it.

Gazzaniga had to make a first save on 20 minutes as Yannick Bolasie cut on to his right foot and hit a cross from the left that seemed to catch the wind and was curling in before the keeper turned it over.

Moments later Gazzaniga was in action again, standing strong at his near post to parry away Cabeye’s remarkable drive from a tight angle.

He completed a quick fire hat-trick of stops with Connor Wickham’s close range header straight at him.

Palace were suddenly on the front foot and Zaha flashed a shot just over the bar.

The tactic of trying to hit Palace on the break with pace so nearly paid off for Saints on 25 minutes as Mane broke, and found Shane Long with a superb diagonal pass.

Long had beaten the offside trap and had time to bring the ball down on his chest and attempt to curl a right footed shot into the opposite top corner from the edge of the area, but he put it agonisingly wide.

Saints created another great chance on 32 minutes as Mane’s backheel found Cedric Soares on the right, who quickly whipped in a cross. Steven Davis nipped ahead of his man and flicked a header goalwards which Wayne Hennessey did superbly to turn over the bar diving full length to his right.

Mane put over the bar from Wanyama’s cut back moments later, but the ball was behind him.

But despite the Saints pressure it was Palace who took the lead on 38 minutes.

Bolasie created it as he knocked the ball past Jose Fonte and outpaced him to get to the right by-line.

Cabeye had tracked to the edge of the six yard box totally unmarked and had the simple task of turning home the cut back from close range.

Wanyama tried a couple of shots from the edge of the area but both were off target before the half time whistle blew with Saints knowing they were going to have to get a goal in the second period to get anything from the game.

Despite falling behind, and having created relatively little, Koeman kept with the same formation at the start of the second half.

Long had half a chance ten minutes after the restart as Palace failed to clear a cross and the ball broke to him just inside the area but his half volley on the spin was well over.

Saints had another spell where they dominated possession but really didn’t look at all threatening.

It seemed a change had to come, though maybe Saints were trying to stay in it and not over commit with Koeman wary of Palace’s pace on the break before a salvo later in the half.

Romeu tried with a long range drive but it was straight at Hennessey.

Saints did make a double change on 67 minutes with Graziano Pelle and Dusan Tadic replacing Steven Davis and Yoshida.

It meant Saints switching formation, and playing in effect an attacking 4-4-2 with Tadic and Mane as advanced wide men and Pelle and Long up front.

It didn’t actually change much immediately though, and indeed it was Palace who created the next chance on 78 minutes as Bolasie’s cut back from the left by-line picked out Zaha but his first time shot from the edge of the area went over.

The goal from Yohan Cabaye - click here for more pictures

Saints a final switch a minute later with James Ward-Prowse replacing Romeu.

Palace responded with Jordan Mutch coming on for Jason Puncheon.

Rather than Saints pressing on it was Palace who suddenly started to look more threatening in the closing stages, Gazzaniga making an excellent save down to his right to prevent Wickham’s near post drive from going in.

From the corner he made another top save, this time from Bolasie’s well hit volley.

The fourth official held up the board to show three minutes of added time and deep into it Saints had the chance they had been waiting for to equalise.

Long broke the offside trap and was in one-on-one with Hennessey but drove his shot straight at the Palace keeper who made the save and condemned Saints to another defeat.