It may not have been a perfect win, but Aston Villa picked up their 10th of 10 home wins in all competitions by recovering from a goal down to take all three points thanks to three goals scored after the 87th minute.
In a crazy ending to a game that Villa deserved to win but almost got thrown out of the game, Jhon Durán equalized, Douglas Luiz scored a delayed penalty eight minutes into stoppage time before Leon Bailey converted a third.
Crystal Palace did everything they could to bolster Roy Hodgson as they appeared to have extended their unbeaten away start to the season thanks to Odsonne Édouard’s goal two minutes into the second half.
With their manager falling ill on the morning of the game and having to stay away, Palace survived a Villa attack in the first half and gained the upper hand when Édouard converted Jean-Philippe Mateta’s cross for his fourth Premier League goal of the season.
Then, with three minutes left in regulation time, Durán chested down Lucas Digne’s cross from the left before firing a howitzer-like half-volley past Sam Johnstone, who had previously required medical attention.
The game was eight minutes into the nine minutes allotted added time when Youri Tielemans put Watkins on goal, but after the referee awarded a penalty for Chris Richards’ challenge, the VAR sent Darren England to the dugout to review the incident . Replays showed the defender may have had a small touch of the ball before knocking Watkins over, but it was hardly a clear and obvious error in awarding the penalty. The referee who went against the grain but stayed true to his judgment deserves recognition.
Douglas Luiz sent Johnstone the wrong way to make it 2-1 and moments later, with Palace completely out of form, Moussa Diaby broke through on the left and crossed to Bailey, who scored again. Douglas Luiz has now scored in four consecutive Premier League home games, the first Villa player to do so since Gareth Barry in 2006.
So Villa can fly to Poland in good spirits this week as they begin their Europa Conference League group game against Legia Warsaw, while Palace are left to lick their wounds.
Palace, who lost Jordan Ayew to injury in the first half after Marc Guéhi failed to recover from the muscle injury he sustained on England duty, took advantage of the absences to play with heart, organization and, last but not least, on the counterattack Creativity, with Eberechi Eze, a stylish outlet again. The Palace fans chanted “Roy Hodgson, he’s one of us” and their solidarity is a testament to their manager.
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As Palace took the lead, Unai Emery responded with increasingly attacking substitutions, and when Bailey showed great skill in moving down the right and crossing, Durán’s shot was saved after Douglas Luiz headed the ball down for him.
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Villa had come closest before equalizing when Watkins showed great composure in an increasingly crowded Palace penalty area and fired a shot onto the inside of the post. The ball bounced back, hitting Johnstone in the head but going for a corner. Then you might start to think your luck is running out.
After Emiliano Martínez made a save in the 82nd minute when Eze, who was in on a chipped back pass from Douglas Luiz, almost lifted the ball over the goalkeeper for their second goal, Villa finally made the breakthrough as Duran scored his third goal for the club achieved in all competitions. Now to Europe.
