Ayew double and Zaha on target as Crystal Palace record friendly win over Charlton Athletic

Crystal Palace ran out 3-0 winners in their pre-season friendly against Charlton Athletic.

Jordan Ayew netted twice for the Eagles with Wilfried Zaha also on target.

The most notable development for Charlton was that Thomas Sandgaard, who wants to buy the League One club, was in the directors’ box at Selhurst Park and sat beside director of football Steve Gallen.

The Danish businessman will have been encouraged by the display for the opening hour – with all Palace’s goals coming after they had completely changed their starting line-up.

Charlton were missing Jason Pearce, sidelined with a knee injury, and Tom Lockyer, who is set to sign a three-year deal at Championship side Luton Town.

It meant that the visitors’ central defensive pairing was Darren Pratley and Deji Oshilaja.

It looked like they would face a major test up against Ebere Eze, making his debut following his £16million move from QPR yesterday, along with Jordan Ayew, Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend.

But while Palace created chances in the first period, Ben Amos had few notable saves to make in the first period. He twice pushed away Townsend strikes and knew little about a close-range block on an Ayew attempt.

Ayew did hit the outside of the left upright just before the interval from a free-kick awarded for a foul on Zaha, who was being held by Oshilaja.

Eze and Zaha also put chances wide, the former not far away with a curled left-footed effort.

Charlton had a little spell of possession shortly before the interval and it produced their only shot on target in the first period, Alfie Doughty’s low and tamely struck shot not providing any problems for Wayne Hennessey.

Eze’s involvement ended at the break as a groin niggle saw him replaced by Jeffrey Schlupp, the only change made by either team before the second half started.

Charlton switched over their entire starting 11 on the hour and fell behind soon after.

Zaha accelerated past Josh Clarke and his cross was a simple tap in for Ayew from close range.

The Addicks had a chance to level on 66 minutes when Erhun Oztumer fed Jonny Williams but the former Palace man failed to get any kind of proper connection to trouble Hennessey.

Moments later and Palace were 2-0 ahead. Townsend slipped in Ayew on the right of the box and he held off Jay Mingi to rifle into the roof of the net.

Zaha made it 3-0 in the 88th minute with an emphatic finish as he met little resistance as he stormed into the penalty area.

PICTURES: PAUL EDWARDS