Bournemouth 2 Crystal Palace 1 – Sakho concedes costly late penalty as Eagles get sinking feeling on South Coast

A late Junior Stanislas penalty condemned Crystal Palace to defeat at Bournemouth despite Patrick van Aanholt’s excellent equaliser.

Bournemouth dominated the opening half and it took just five minutes for them to take the lead when David Brooks bent an effort in off the underside of the bar from distance.

With just after half an hour played, Steve Cook rose highest to head a free-kick towards goal but could only nod straight at Wayne Hennessey as the hosts put Palace under significant pressure.

 

The Eagles were very fortunate to only go into the break with a one goal deficit.

They came out much better in the second half and found themselves level when Wilfried Zaha slipped the ball in down the left to Van Aanholt who hammered the ball past Asmir Begovic with his weaker right foot on 55 minutes.

Bournemouth continued to control the pace of the game and dominated possession, and ought to have gone ahead on 83 minutes through Callum Wilson after he capitalised on poor defending from Van Aanholt and Mamadou Sakho, but was thwarted by a superb save from Hennessey who rushed out to meet him and used his feet well.

The Welsh goalkeeper was again called upon to prevent the hosts taking the lead as he saved superbly from a strong Dan Gosling header.

But he could do little when on 87 minutes Sakho fouled Jefferson Lerma and Mike Dean pointed to the penalty spot.

Stanislas duly stepped up to despatch the penalty and earn all three points for the Cherries.