Oliver Glasner issues update on key Crystal Palace injury concern as Unai Emery makes 'dominating' claim

Crystal Palace made easy work of top four hopefuls Aston Villa on Tuesday night, providing the surprise result of the night in the Premier League. The Eagles won 4-1 at home thanks to a brace from Ismaila Sarr and goals from Jean-Philippe Mateta and Eddie Nketiah.

The win means Oliver Glasner’s men are up to 12th place and to within four points of Villa, who have dropped to 10th place as a result of the defeat, with Fulham and Brighton both winning on Tuesday night.

The one downside from the win was the emergence of an injury concern over key centre-back Marc Guehi, who had an issue with his knee. Providing an update after the game, Glasner said: “He felt a little bit of pain. Fingers crossed, it is nothing serious. He felt pain in his knee. He can rest now for two days, but should be ready for Friday and for the Millwall game.”

Speaking about the win itself. Glasner added: “It was brilliant. The players did fantastic today. We were a little bit surprised by their system because they matched us in a 3-4-3, but the players knew exactly what to do. They stayed patient. Also, at the beginning, when [Villa goalkeeper] Emi Martínez always waited with the ball, we know what they wanted. We ran and opened the pocket, and then with two or three quick passes, they found their players – so we stayed patient. We just gave them passes where we wanted.

“We were very sharp in the pressing and scored great goals. And also, we have to be honest, we were in one or two situations, one or two decisions, where we were a little bit lucky: our goal was allowed, their goal was disallowed.

“I'm pleased most today with the reaction after the [Villa] equaliser, because we missed several chances. We were just 1-0 up at half-time, and all of a sudden, it's 1-1, it was [from] one long ball. Then the momentum can change in a game when you face a team with all the quality of Aston Villa – but we didn't allow it today.

“We didn't allow the momentum to change because the players were so confident, and stuck to the plan and waited for situations, and were so aggressive and so sharp. And then we scored amazing goals, created so many chances, and it was really a very good performance today.”

What Emery said

Villa boss Unai Emery also spoke after the game, and he spoke about the points of domination that his side held in the game and the key aspect of domination that won Palace the game. “We played the first 30 minutes, controlling of the game and more or less dominating,” he said. “We were creating chances, and we were not conceding the chances of them.

“The first corner we conceded, the first chance they had, they scored. It was tough for us. Then, progressively, we were getting worse. We drew (level in) the second half, and in that moment we (thought) maybe it is the moment we can again react, dominating the match again, keeping ball possession better and trying to stop them.

“But they scored the second goal, the third goal, and it was progressively, of course, more difficult for us. We were not dominating a lot of duels as well with them. It’s tough to lose here. We have to accept it. We are frustrated and we have to try to move on.”

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