Southampton rolled to a well deserved 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace behind goals from Pablo Osvaldo and Rickie Lambert.
Southampton vs. Crystal Palace: Final score 2-0, Osvaldo and Lambert power the Saints to three points
Goals early in the second half from Pablo Osvaldo and Rickie Lambert helped Southampton to a victory over Crystal Palace.
Paul Gilham
Southampton had an early chance to go in front in the eighth minute when a poor clearance attempt by Crystal Palace popped up in the air and right to Morgan Schneiderlin. His chip-esque header looped over Julian Speroni -- can you chip the ball with your head? -- but was cleared off the line by a Palace defender.
There was an interesting moment in the 28th minute when Palace striker Marouane Chamakh got past the Soton defense and went down in a heap after Artur Boruc tried to sweep the ball off his foot. While most expected a penalty, referee Martin Atkinson wasted no time pulling out his yellow card and booking Chamakh for diving.
Replays showed it was an excellent call as Chamakh began his “fall” before Boruc arrived and dragged his foot back into the keeper in an attempt to trick the referee.
Soton finally got the much-deserved lead less than two minutes into the second half thanks to their record signing Pablo Osvaldo. After a poor clearance by Palace, Adam Lallana gained control of the ball at the top of the area and pushed in centrally to Osvaldo. The Italian international created some space for himself before firing a low shot that skipped over Julian Speroni’s outstretched hand.
Two minutes later the Saints were back for more.
After earning a free kick 25 yards from goal, Rickie Lambert stepped up and hammered a shot off the near post and into the back of the net to double the lead to 2-0.
Southampton: Boruc, Clyne, Lovren, Fonte, Shaw, Schneiderlin, Wanyama, Osvaldo, Davis, Lallana (RamÃrez 86’), Lambert (Rodriguez 77’).
Goals: Osvaldo (47’), Lambert (49’)
Crystal Palace: Speroni, Ward, Mariappa, Gabbidon, Moxey, Dikgacoi, Jedinak, Kebe (Philips 73’), Bannan (Jerome 57’), Gayle (Thomas 58’), Chamakh.
Goals: None.
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