Southampton 3-1 Crystal Palace: Saints come from behind with two late goals

The Northam End’s goalmouth had a new look with the turf clearly relaid where it had given way so dramatically under Harry Arter’s standing foot on Saturday – three months after Harry Kane suffered a similar fate.

It was not put to use last night, despite strong calls for a handball against Crystal Palace in the first half.

But Saints were sure-footed enough in open play to clinch their first St Mary’s win since January, thanks to two late goals.

Christian Benteke gave Crystal Palace a 31st-minute lead following a wonderful move from the visitors.

But Nathan Redmond volleyed Saints’ equaliser on the stroke of half-time and Maya Yoshida and James Ward-Prowse scored in the 84th and 85th minutes to secure a much-needed win.

Claude Puel made two changes to the team that drew at home to AFC Bournemouth on Saturday with Shane Long coming in for Jay Rodriguez and Sam McQueen replacing Ryan Bertrand.

Palace, captained by ex-Saint Jason Puncheon, arrived at St Mary’s just an hour before kick- off but were unchanged following Saturday’s 2-1 success at champions-elect Chelsea – their fourth successive win.

Long missed the target on three occasions before Luka Milivojevic whipped Palace a free-kick, against the outside of the post from 25 yards.

Saints forced the first save of the night on 20 minutes when the diminutive Redmond jumped high above Palace right-back Joel Ward to meet Cedric’s cross, which he headed downward at the far post.

Wayne Hennessy was equal to it, pulling off the save of the night by diving low to his right and palming it on to the post.

With Andros Townsend, Puncheon and Wilfried Zaha providing a formidable triumvirate behind Benteke, it was easy to see why Palace have been so ruthless of late.

Benteke, fresh from his Stamford Bridge silencer, had a shot blocked by Yoshida after turning Stephens sublimely in the Saints penalty area.

Then Zaha’s powerful 12-yard strike cannoned behind for a corner off Romeu.

It was a warning of what was to come.

In the 31st minute Palace scored a sublime opener involving each of their fabulous front foursome.

Zaha began the move by weaving his way across the edge of the Saints area. After evading Romeu he passed to Puncheon, whose slide-rule pass to Townsend was weighted to perfection.

With Stephens playing catch-up, the cross was delivered into the six-yard box, where Benteke was lurking between Yoshida and Cedric.

For a predator like Benteke, it was easy prey. Instinctively, he stretched out his left foot and stabbed a volley - his 16th goal of the season - past the helpless Fraser Forster.

When Benteke headed down a Townsend cross from the other flank, Zaha should have done better than half-volley it into the Chapel Stand.

But Saints ended the first half the stronger and could have led at half-time, had one of their two appeals for a penalty been given.

The Northam End’s penalty spot was particularly conspicuous last night. It was of a much darker hue, but referee Roger East saw no reason for it to be used.

That was despite the ball clearly coming off Palace defender Jeffrey Schlupp’s left hand as the Ghanaian tussled for it with Tadic inside the area.

East was the subject of more Saints wrath when he waved play on after Long went down under what, in fairness, was a heavy-duty shoulder charge from Milivojevic.

No matter. Saints were level in the 45th minute, when Redmond fired past two Palace defenders at the far post, following Davis’s cross from the right.

The England man had time to control the ball on his chest and his left-footed volley, while not the cleanest of hits, had enough on it to go past four despairing Palace defenders and Hennessy as Palace argued Davis had fouled Zaha in regaining possession on the touchline.

The excellent Redmond created the first chance of the second half. After beating Ward his low, left-footed cross was fired goalwards by Ward-Prowse but blocked by Sakho. Cedric missed the target with the rebound.

Townsend reacted with clever improvisation to Puncheon’s lofted ball, hooking it on the net from 12 yards before Long chipped wide from Tadic’s through ball.

Davis was dispossessed by Martin Kelly after a surging run into the area took him inside Sakho.

Excellent chances fell to both sides within a minute of each other.

Following Benteke’s towering knock down, Kelly hooked a half-volley against the post from six yards.

Then, from Tadic’s through ball, Long beat the offside trap only for Hennessy to claw his attempt away in the ensuing one-on-one.

Hennessy also dived low to his left to turn behind Romeu’s 25-yarder before clutching Yoshida’s header to his right.

Davis was denied by successive goal-line clearances - a right-footer blocked by Sakho and a first-time left-footer stopped by Delaney – following Tadic’s cross.

It seemed it was not going to be Saints’ night as the captain received treatment following his collision with Delaney.

But two goals in as many minutes turned the game on its head When Stephens popped up to divert Redmond’s cross to the far post, Yoshida stabbed in.

Then Ward-Prowse netted his second goal in three games, following Cedric’s run into the box. Forster secured the points by tipping over a Puncheon free-kick in injury time.