Crystal Palace secured three consecutive home wins in the Premier League for the first time since 2018 thanks to Odsonne Edouard’s goal seven minutes before half-time.
Patrick Viera’s side battered Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side in the first half but Saints were transformed in the second and Che Adams missed two good chances to equalise whilst Stuart Armstrong struck the post.
This was Hasenhuttl’s 150th league game in charge of Southampton and a run of three matches undefeated had eased the pressure on the Austrian ahead of this trip to South-East London.
With games against Newcastle and Liverpool to come ahead of the World Cup break, the spotlight is now back on him with Saints just two points above the drop zone.
His team were immediately put to the sword as Palace won a host of early corners and free-kicks. Michael Olise’s effort was tipped over by Gavin Bazunu whilst Luca Milivojevic’s attempt drifted harmlessly over.
Milivojevic did go close when Schlupp broke down the right and pulled it back to the Palace captain who saw his shot cannon off Lyanco.
Vieira’s side kept up the pressure and Wilfried Zaha had an excellent chance to put them in front after being found with a clever flick from Eberechi Eze but the Ivorian pulled it wide of the far post.
Southampton were almost entirely on the back foot but did cause a problem or Palace who scrambled clear Moi Elyounoussi’s near post flick from James Ward-Prowse’s corner.
Olise was lively for Palace early on but was lucky to escape a booking when he threw himself to the ground under pressure from Mohammed Salisu.
Saints had barely threatened but did so when Che Adams looked to have broken the offside trap before cutting inside and thumping the ball against the far post only for the flag to then go up.
Palace were looking dangerous every time they came forward and Bazunu was needed make a smart save low to his right from Eze’s 20-yard strike following good work from Schlupp.
It was then Palace’s turn to have a goal chalked off for offside – this time it was Edouard who was denied.
But the Frenchman was soon on the scoresheet, finishing off a move started by Zaha stealing the ball from Lyanco and finding Tyrick Mitchell whose low cross was touched home by the former Celtic striker.
Hasenhuttl responded to a poor first-half display by bringing on Arsenal loan midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles for Ibrahima Diallo.
His team started the second half more brightly and were appealing for a penalty after a swift counter-attack saw Elyounoussi’s shot strike Marc Guehi’s foot and then his arm but Michael Salisbury waved away the protests.
Adams then had a great chance to equalise after being found by Ward-Prowse but his first touch slowed him down and the shot was too close to Vincente Guaita who blocked it easily.
Seconds later Guaita made a more impressive save when he showed quick reflexes to get down to Stuart Armstrong’s shot at the near post.
Saints were finding plenty of space down the left and Joe Aribo found Armstrong there once more and this time his shot struck the base of the post.
There next chance came down the other side where Elyounoussi won possession and found Adams. He played a lovely one-two with Aribo but once more was unable to find the first-time finish on his left foot.
Palace sub Jordan Ayew twice raced to the right touchline late on but was unable to pick out a teammate to convert, though Edouard’s goal proved enough.
World Cup player watch:
Eberechi Eze was lively throughout a first-half dominated by Palace and twice forced saves from Gavin Bazunu. For Southampton, James Ward-Prowse came into the game as his team grew in confidence but the Saints’ skipper is a long way short of his best form and looks set to miss out for England.
