JAN Bednarek was substituted at half-time at Crystal Palace this afternoon for "tactical" reasons, confirmed boss Ralph Hasenhuttl.

Poland international Bednarek started at centre-back alongside Jack Stephens at Selhurst Park.

But Hasenhuttl opted to make a change with Saints 1-0 down at the break, introducing Jannik Vestergaard.

While Saints improved after the restart, they could not find a way back and lost by that solitary Wilfried Zaha goal.

Asked if Bednarek had been withdrawn due to injury, Hasenhuttl said: "No, it was tactical.

"I needed a few diagonal balls in from Jannik behind the last line. We immediately got chances after half-time and then also with his headers from set pieces we had chances.

"This was what I was expecting. In the end the second half, we were more aggressive and a little bit better. I think Jannik played his part in this."