Skip to content
Full Time After Extra Time This is a live match. Extra Time Half Time

Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace. Premier League.

Vitality StadiumAttendance9,972.

Bournemouth 0

    Crystal Palace 2

    • J Ayew (19th minute)
    • E Eze (36th minute)

    Bournemouth 0-2 Crystal Palace: Jordan Ayew and Eberechi Eze give visitors deserved win at Vitality Stadium

    Match report and free highlights as Crystal Palace deservedly beat Bournemouth 2-0 at the Vitality Stadium to record their first victory since November 6; Bournemouth slip to their sixth defeat in seven Premier League games as new owner Bill Foley watches on

    Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

    FREE TO WATCH: Highlights of Crystal Palace's win over Bournemouth in the Premier League

    Jordan Ayew and Eberechi Eze gave Crystal Palace a convincing 2-0 win over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on New Year's Eve.

    With new Bournemouth owner Bill Foley and minority shareholder Michael B Jordan watching on, the hosts produced a lacklustre performance but Palace thoroughly deserved the three points in difficult conditions on the south coast.

    Ayew headed Palace in front on 19 minutes when he guided in a Michael Olise corner and the visitors firmly took control when another brilliantly worked Olise set-piece was finely converted by Eze from the edge of the box (36).

    Player ratings

    Bournemouth: Travers (5), Anthony (6), Smith (6), Senesi (6), Kelly (6), Zemura (5), Cook (6), Lerma (6), Billing (5), Solanke (6), Moore (5).

    Subs: Dembele (6), Rothwell (6), Christie (n/a), Lowe (n/a).

    Crystal Palace: Guaita (7), Ward (6), Andersen (7), Guehi (7), Clyne (6), Olise (8), Doucoure (7), Schlupp (7), Ayew (7), Zaha (6), Eze (7).

    Subs: Mateta (6), Edouard (6), Hughes (n/a).

    Player of the match: Michael Olise.

    Bournemouth improved at the start of the second half but rarely threatened as Palace comfortably cruised to their first victory since November 6.

    The result leaves Gary O'Neil's side 15th in the table and just three points above the relegation zone after their sixth defeat in seven Premier League games. Palace bounce back from consecutive losses and are 11th in the Premier League table on 22 points.

    How Palace brushed aside Bournemouth

    New Bournemouth owners Foley and actor Jordan were introduced on the pitch before kick-off, but the sprinkle of Hollywood stardust did little to lift the Cherries.

    Both sides paid tribute to Pele with a minute's applause before the action was under way under a considerable downpour.

    Also See:

    Team news

    Bournemouth made one change from the side that lost 2-0 to Chelsea on Tuesday.

    Jaidon Anthony came into the starting line-up, replacing Jack Stacey.

    As for Crystal Palace, they made two enforced changes following Boxing Day's 3-0 defeat by Fulham.

    Suspended duo James Tomkins and Tyrick Mitchell were replaced by the returning Marc Guehi and Joel Ward.

    Palace had an early opportunity when the ball fell to Jeffrey Schlupp inside the area but his effort was directed well wide of the left-hand upright.

    The visitors were unable to make anything of a handful of early set-pieces but took the lead after 19 minutes when Ayew rose highest to meet Olise's corner and cushioned a header into the bottom right corner from the edge of the six-yard box.

    Olise looked to set up another as he sent the ball across the face of goal from the right but he was ultimately unable to find a team-mate to tuck it past Mark Travers.

    Palace then conceded a free-kick of their own, taken by Jaidon Anthony who floated it across the pitch to Kieffer Moore on the left. The Cherries striker directed a threatening header into the box, forcing Vicente Guaita into a leaping catch to avoid any danger of an equaliser.

    Jordan Ayew celebrates putting Crystal Palace 1-0 up
    Image: Jordan Ayew put Crystal Palace 1-0 up in the 19th minute

    The Eagles extended their lead after 36 minutes after Olise once again set up a team-mate from a perfectly-placed corner. This time it was Eze, who wasted no time in curling a right-footed effort into the bottom left corner from close to the penalty spot.

    The rain eased after the restart, as did the home support, whose side looked more composed. Guaita somehow survived several Bournemouth attempts in a scramble before Travers blocked Eze's sharp effort directly from a free-kick at the other end.

    The hosts could ultimately only take consolation in the fact that the deficit was not wider after Schlupp picked out Jean-Philippe Mateta but the substitute directed his effort wide.

    Guaita stopped Siriki Dembele's strike before Wilfried Zaha skied a late effort and the visitors fended off four minutes of added time to seal the clean-sheet victory.

    Eberechi Eze celebrates scoring Crystal Palace's second goal
    Image: Eberechi Eze's brilliant effort doubled Crystal Palace's lead against Bournemouth

    O'Neil: No excuses, I'm furious

    Bournemouth head coach Gary O'Neil said: "I think it's the first time since I've taken charge that we've fallen well below the standards that we've set. I'm very disappointed with nearly all aspects of today.

    "I'm furious about the goals. If we defend the set-plays like we've worked on neither goal occurs. Defending set-plays has been a thing all season we've struggled with but they were avoidable today.

    "We miss (Marcus) Tavernier, he's been fantastic for us and had an incredible impact... of course we miss him. But I hate excuses. I'm not looking for excuses. I take full responsibility. It cannot look like that in the Premier League because it's ruthless."

    Bill Foley
    Image: New Bournemouth owner Bill Foley watched in person at the Vitality Stadium on New Year's Eve

    Vieira impressed by 'disciplined' Palace performance

    Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira said: "It was a really good team performance. I think we played really well. We were aggressive, we were disciplined and when we had possession we showed some quality. It was a really good performance."

    Asked if the win brought relief after the Boxing Day loss to Fulham, Vieira added: "It was relief from people that had doubt on us, on the team, on the players, but I always say I know my players really well, I know how well they can play.

    "It's important for me and it's important for everyone at the club to trust the players. We have to understand who we are as a football club. What is difficult is when you have a young group of players who are new in the Premier League, there will be ups and downs.

    "I didn't believe we were the worst team after the game against Fulham and I still don't think we have the best team after today. I invite everyone to be a bit more consistent in their emotions and to control their emotions."

    Fantasy Premier League stats

    FPL stats: Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace

    Goals Ayew, Eze
    Assists Olise (2)
    Bonus points Olise (3pts) | Ayew (2pts) | Guaita (1pt)

    Opta stats: Palace beat Bournemouth again

    • Crystal Palace have won each of the last four Premier League meetings with Bournemouth, with their four victories over the Cherries their joint-longest winning run against an opponent in the competition.
    • Bournemouth have now lost six of their last seven Premier League games (W1), while today was their 100th defeat in the competition in what is their 207th game.
    • Jordan Ayew has now netted his 15th Premier League goal for Crystal Palace and 30th in the competition overall, with five of his last seven goals coming in the first half, compared to just one of his first 23.
    • Three of Eberechi Eze's eight Premier League goals for Crystal Palace have come from outside the box, only Wilfried Zaha (4) has more for the Eagles since the start of 2020-21.
    • Bournemouth conceded their 10th and 11th goals from a corner in the Premier League this season, more than any other side.

    What's next?

    Bournemouth travel to Manchester United in the Premier League on January 3 at 8pm before hosting Burnley in the third round of the FA Cup four days later.

    Gary O'Neil's side then return to Premier League action on January 14 at 5.30pm when they make the trip to Brentford, live on Sky Sports.

    Live Premier League

    Up next for Crystal Palace is a Premier League home match against Tottenham on January 4 at 8pm, live on Sky Sports.

    Palace then host Southampton in the FA Cup third round on January 7 at 12.30pm before travelling to Chelsea in the league the following weekend.

    Win £250,000 with Super 6!
    Win £250,000 with Super 6!

    Predict six scorelines to win £250,000 for free with Super 6. Entries by 3pm Saturday.