Both sides entered the contest in desperate need of a lift, having each lost four of their previous five competitive matches. The hosts quickly imposed themselves and, having already forced two desperate blocks, Wiflried Zaha teed up Odsonne Édouard for the opener. Just a quarter-hour into the striker’s first start since scoring the winner last time these sides met, the Frenchman got in ahead of Duje Ćaleta-Car before confidently slotting past Gavin Bazunu. Jordan Ayew should have added a Palace second when he latched onto Michael Olise’s pinpoint cross, but instead struck the crossbar with the goal at his mercy.
While Southampton fans let Nathan Jones know they weren’t happy with his brand of football, his players searched for a route back into the game and got it in the most bizarre fashion. After former Portsmouth defender Joel Ward gave away a free-kick, he seemed to duck underneath James Ward-Prowse’s delivery, which floated past Vicente Guaita off the inside of the post. Ainsley Maitland-Niles was thankful to avoid a strange goal at the other end, as his header from Olise’s effort flew marginally wide.
In a lively start to the second period, Samuel Edozie made a brilliant burst forward before passing up the opportunity to shoot and playing an underwhelming pass, with Olise firing straight at Bazunu moments later. Then, shortly after saving Adam Armstrong’s intelligently flicked header, Guaita gave him a gift that was gratefully received, as the goalkeeper took an age to attempt a clearance that the striker blocked before putting Southampton ahead, having not started any of the Saints’ previous five matches.
Zaha stretched Southampton’s defence late on, but the Saints stood firm as they continued to get some cup relief, with each of their last three competitive wins coming outside the PL. Meanwhile, Palace have suffered three consecutive home losses in all competitions for the first time since July 2020.
Flashscore Man of the Match: James Ward-Prowse (Southampton)
