Crystal Palace 2-1 Aston Villa

Posted Sunday, August 23, 2015 by Goal.com

The new signing from Wolves struck late on after Pape Souare's own goal had equalised Scott Dann's opener for the Eagles

Bakary Sako marked his Crystal Palace debut with a late winner as he secured victory over Aston Villa at Selhurst Park.

Villa had the better of the first half as Palace keeper Alex McCarthy made good saves to deny Gabriel Agbonlahor and Jack Grealish.

But having made two substitutions at half-time, the Eagles improved in the second half and thought they had taken the lead as Dwight Gayle's effort deflected in off James McCarthur, but the effort was eventually ruled out following som consultation by the officials.

Alan Pardew's side did eventually take the lead as Scott Dann headed in Jason Puncheon's corner, though the visitors equalised as Adama Traore's effort was deflected in off Pape Souare.

But it was new signing Sako who had the final word as he curled an effort past Brad Guzan after Dann robbed Jordan Amavi in a dangerous area.

Grealish and Rudy Gestede were two of three changes to Tim Sherwood's side and the pair combined down the right early on before the striker failed to connect with an acrobatic effort inside the Palace area.

Palace saw half-hearted penalty appeals turned down when Idrissa Gueye tangled with Wilfried Zaha before Puncheon put the hosts' first sight on goal over the crossbar.

Chances continued to flow but Agbonlahor could only to prod a tame effort at McCarthy while Ashley Westwood's last-ditch lunge denied Zaha after strong running from Glenn Murray.

Villa's momentum was quelled somewhat by a water break in stifling south London heat, although Grealish's fierce drive needed tipping over by McCarthy after play resumed.

Both sides were thwarted by a lack of cutting edge prior to the interval and Pardew introduced Gayle and Jordon Mutch for Zaha and Murray to try and break the deadlock.

The former Peterborough United striker made his first contribution with a cross for Sako - Micah Richards and Guzan combining to deny the Mali international - before Gayle collected Yohan Cabaye's delivery and found the back of the net via McArthur.

The goal appeared to be allowed initially but, amid vociferous Villa appeals, the referee's assistant determined that McArthur to be in an offside position and subsequently ruled it out.

However, the home fans were soon back on their feet as Dann rose highest to thump Puncheon's left-wing corner beyond Guzan.

Described by Sherwood as a combination of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo after arriving from Barcelona, Traore made good on that billing with a searing run through Palace's defence before his cut-back squirmed in off Souare.

But it was another debutant, Sako, who had the final say, curling home after Dann robbed Amavi deep in Villa territory.