Second-bottom Burnley ended their 16-game winless run thanks to a seven-minute Crystal Palace capitulation, which helped Scott Parker’s side fight back from two goals down in the first half to win 3-2 at Selhurst Park.
On a night that should have been much different for Oliver Glasner’s side, Jorgen Strand Larsen got off to a dream start on his home debut, scoring twice early on.
It was one-way traffic for the first 40 minutes against a Burnley team who had arrived late due to traffic congestion, which caused a delayed kick-off.
However, after a frosty start, Hannibal Mejbri pulled one back for Burnley before Jaidon Anthony slotted smartly past Dean Henderson to bring the Clarets level.
Burnley weren’t done there, though, as with half-time looming, Bashir Humphreys’ header created a mess that resulted in a Jefferson Lerma own goal.
With 45 minutes to remedy their first half headloss, Palace huffed and puffed but couldn’t blow down a rare staunch Burnley defence. Palace’s only shot on target in the second half came in stoppage time when Martin Dubravka pulled off a super stop to deny Ismaila Sarr an equaliser.
Defeat for Palace sees them extend their Selhurst rot with the Eagles now eight games without a home win as they drop to 14th.
After being cut adrift in the fight for Premier League survival, Burnley’s comeback helps them cut the gap to 18th-place West Ham to six points.
Glasner critical of sloppy defending
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner said his side didn’t deserve to win.
“When you defend so sloppily, like we did in these eight or nine minutes, you deserve to lose,” Glasner said.
“We controlled the game, scoring nice goals, and look at what the players did. Forgot about the basics, about the duels, second balls, defending, complaining about the referee’s decision, their handball, stopping to play.
“We are still complaining when we concede a goal. Maybe it felt too easy to be too low up, controlling the game.
“Then we got punished in the second half, we tried everything. But if you throw away the game like we did in these eight-nine minutes, you don’t deserve to win, and that’s why we have to accept it. But honestly, it’s very tough today.”
Parker: Not many teams can do what we did tonight
Burnley boss Scott Parker was full of praise for his side after their victory.
“I cannot describe to you, last weekend, we were at home, and the adversity, the stress, the clear frustration on everyone. That performance tonight, I’m sorry, there aren’t many teams that could do that.
“Not where we are, not where we currently sit, and then coming out on the home fixture against West Ham, where we’re practically getting booed off the pitch by our own fans. I understand that, I’m not criticising that, I’ve got my views on that, but to come here, be 2-0 down, that just speaks [volumes] absolutely.
“I’ve got four sons and the one thing I say to them is exactly that. If ever there was learning for them, young boys of mine, is tonight. Because in those moments, in these moments, when people could fold, that group, what you see tonight, yeah, it was unbelievable.”