Soccer

Dwight Gayle’s stunning strike lifts Crystal Palace out of bottom three

Injury-time winner provides precious three points for Tony Pulis’s side as Villa slip to a fourth successive defeat

Dwight Gayle (C) of Crystal Palace celebrates with his team-mates after scoring his side’s late winner at Villa Park. Photo: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Dwight Gayle (C) of Crystal Palace celebrates with his team-mates after scoring his side’s late winner at Villa Park. Photo: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Thu Dec 26 2013 - 19:25

Aston Villa 0 Crystal Palace 1

Substitute Dwight Gayle scored a stunning injury-time winner at Villa Park to lift Crystal Palace out of the Premier League relegation zone.

The game looked set to end goalless when Gayle picked up the ball wide on the left, dribbled past Fabian Delph and curled a superb shot into the top corner.

The travelling Palace fans erupted in celebration of their second away win while boos rang out around Villa Park as the hosts slipped to a fourth straight defeat.

The first half was a story of frustration for the hosts. They had plenty of possession but could not turn that into attempts on Julian Speroni’s goal.

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Karim El Ahmadi's late volley was deflected on its way over the bar and from the corner Kozak's header looked destined for the top corner until Adrian Mariappa got his head in the way.

Both teams created chances in the second half. Former Villa midfielder Barry Bannan saw his shot pushed onto a post by Brad Guzan.

Villa had the majority of the play, though, and, after an Agbonlahor run ended with the striker shooting straight at Speroni, Weimann shot over. Jordan Bowery had an 89th-minute header tipped over by Speroni before Gayle's dramatic, late, great intervention.