Southampton 0-2 Crystal Palace: Eberechi Eze scores second half brace to keep Eagles soaring

 Southampton’s Premier League status is hanging by a thread after a record-equalling 10th home league defeat left them stranded at the foot of the table as Roy Hodgson made it three wins from three on his Crystal Palace return.

Eberechi Eze scored both goals early in the second half to all but guarantee Palace’s survival and all but condemn Saints to the Championship.

Boos rang out around St Mary’s at the final whistle from those who had remained with many of the 30,000 supporters having already have departed.

This was a tenth home defeat in what has been a dismal season at St Mary’s. A dramatic summer surely awaits for the South Coast club.

As they had to, Southampton made most of the early running. A well-disguised corner from James-Ward-Prowse found Theo Walcott at the near post and he touched the ball back to Joe Aribo who shot wastefully over.

Bottom club Southampton are running out of matches to get themselves out of danger

Another chance came as Walcott linked up well with Argentinian midfielder Carlos Alcarez but his near post effort was tame and gathered comfortably by Sam Johnstone.

Since Hodgson’s return to the club, Palace have been free-scoring and Michael Olise thought he had given the Eagles the lead as he skipped round Gavin Bazunu to score before being flagged offside.

Walcott has been one of Southampton’s brighter performers in a dismal run of form which had seen the club fail to win any of their previous five games.

He should have given Saints the lead after being picked out by the lively Kamaldeen Sulemana but the 34 year-old shot into the side-netting via the outside of the post.

This was a game that mattered far more to Southampton than it did to Palace with Hodgson’s side having won their last two to move clear of the bottom three.

But Saints had scored just 24 goals in 30 games before the Eagles’ visit to the South Coast and, despite dominating possession and chances, they again had nothing to show for it by half-time.

Ruben Selles’ side were looking to avoid a record-equalling ten home defeats and as the half drew to a close, a smattering of boos rang out around St Mary’s.

Selles responded by gesturing to the crowd to calm down and back his players before thundering down the tunnel to deliver his half-time message.

Crystal Palace emerged a different side after half-time in their previous game against Leeds United, going on to thrash Javi Gracia’s side 1-5.

The second half at St Mary’s began in just the same way as Eze gave them the lead from close range after Bazunu had pushed Jordan Ayew’s cross out into the penalty area.

With Southampton struggling to mount any kind of response, Palace almost scored again when Joel Ward pulled the ball across the goal line and just beyond the reach of Odsonne Edouard.

They didn’t have long to wait for the second goal and once more it game from Eze. This time, the 24 year-old collected the ball 35 yards from goal, pivoted away from two challenges and scored low into the corner in front of the away fans through the legs of Armel Bella-Kotchap.

They replied with chants of “Roy Hodgson, he’s one of our own” as the 75 year-old made it three wins from three since returning to Selhurst Park.

In the home concourses, the mood was much bleaker. “You’re not fit to wear the shirt” was sung by some sections whilst others opted for an early exit from St Mary’s.

Alcarez did strike the post with a 20 yard curling effort whilst Bella-Kotchap brought a good save from Sam Johnstone with a powerful drive but it was much too little, much too late.