Attilio Lombardo made an unhappy start to his term as Crystal Palace
player-coach as his side were swept aside by Aston Villa in a Premiership
encounter short on genuine quality at Villa Park.
Lombardo was promoted by chairman elect Mark Goldberg with the hope that he
might ignite a late season revival by Palace to bolster their already slim
chances of avoiding relegation to the First Division.
But The Eagles were no match for even a Villa side which seldom moved into top
gear - and Palace's eighth successive defeat equals the worst sequence of
results in their history stretching back 73 years.
Palace, who have now gone 15 league matches without a win, played from the
start like a side already resigned to their fate in May - and the game was over
as a contest by half-time.
Understandably, Palace lacked confidence but they also looked short of spirit,
handed Villa acres of space in which to play and defended in amateurish
fashion.
It was fortunate for the Eagles that Villa did not fire at full throttle in
the second period in what was their fifth match in 14 days.
Manager John Gregory's side looked to be saving energy for the UEFA Cup
quarter-final return with Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.
But it provided the confidence boosting victory that was needed before the
considerably more difficult task ahead of overcoming Raddy Antic's multi-million
pound side.
Two goals from fit again striker Savo Milosevic also took Villa to within
three points of the 42-point mark that manager John Gregory has set them to
ensure Premiership survival.
Villa needed only 59 seconds to break the deadlock. Recalled wing-back
Fernando Nelson had time to deliver an inviting inch perfect cross which the
unmarked Ian Taylor headed past an exposed Palace 'keeper Kevin Miller.
That set the tone for the remainder of the first half and the only surprise
was that Villa managed only three goals in that period - such was their total
dominance.
They had acres of space to exploit in midfield and the Palace defence wastorn
apart with ease by the pacey Julian Joachim and the power Savo Milosevic.
Joachim lost control when clear but in the 15th minute he was chopped down in
the area by Valerien Ismael - and up stepped Milosevic to send Miller the wrong
way with the spot-kick.
Lee Hendrie sliced wide when well placed and Milosevic's control let him down
when a Tomas Brolin clearance ricocheted into his path and allowed Neil Emblen
to make a goal-saving tackle.
But after 36 minutes Palace cracked again. A left-wing centre from Steve
Staunton was brought down by Milosevic who had time to turn and volleyed a
left-footed shot past Miller from 12 yards out.
The only effort that Palace managed on target in the first half was a low20
yard drive from fit again Neil Shipperley which was easy meat for Villa 'keeper
Mark Bosnich.
The second half opened in similar fashion with Joachim dragging a shot wide
from inside the area and then sending over a deep cross which Milosevic volleyed
wide at the far post.
But the home side, who lost the services of the injured midfielder Mark Draper
in the 53rd minute, became sloppy and casual as the half wore on - and Matt
Jansen gave Palace some hope with a spectacular goal.
Jansen had only been on the pitch as a substitute for five minutes when he
unleashed a 25-yard shot which flew into the top corner of the net past a
startled Mark Bosnich in the 62nd minute.
Palace at last began to play with some pride and Bosnich did well to turn
behind a close range effort from Bruce Dyer - but it was a case of too little,
too late for the Londoners.
Teams:
Aston Villa: Bosnich, Staunton, Southgate, Ehiogu, Taylor,
Draper (Grayson 53), Milosevic, Joachim, Wright,
Nelson (Charles 72), Hendrie.
Subs Not Used: Collins, Byfield, Oakes.
Booked: Milosevic, Staunton.
Goals: Taylor 1, Milosevic 15 pen, 36.
Crystal Palace: Miller, Edworthy, Gordon, Shipperley (Jansen 57),
Dyer, Smith, Brolin, Bent (Lombardo 63), Ismael,
Emblen (Rodger 45), Fullarton.
Subs Not Used: Linighan, Nash.
Booked: Ismael.
Goals: Jansen 62.
Att: 33,781
Ref: G P Barber (Pyrford).
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