With Joachim Andersen scoring an own goal in the first half, Aston Villa defeated 10-man Crystal Palace 1-0 to win the Premier League. The returning Wilfried Zaha had an early goal disallowed for offside by video assistant refereeing. Still, the home team eventually took the lead when Joachim Andersen stuffed Matty Cash's low cross into his net. Unai Emery's team had an early scare. After Cheick Doucoure was given a second yellow card for a late challenge on Calum Chambers, Palace's problems worsened after the hour mark.
Patrick Vieira's team couldn't get back on track as their struggles in front of the goal continued. The defeat extended Palace's nine-match winless streak, but Vieira's team remains six points above the relegation zone. They haven't won a game in 2023, and their worrying slide toward relegation continues as they play Man City and Arsenal in their next three games, which can decide their fate.
Vieira called on his team to respond positively. He stated: We were generally aware of how complex that series of games would be. We know we can compete with teams like Manchester City, so we must get back and play. We did it against Liverpool and always had the strength at home to compete at our highest level. I'm not any more worried than I was after the Liverpool match. We need to get back on our feet and start winning games.
Naturally, it is constrained, and we must continue to work effectively and hard." In the meantime, Villa moved seven points ahead of Palace, who remained in 12th place with the victory. It improves their chances of avoiding the drop and pushing for a top-10 finish. This also ensures that their next matches carry more importance as a win can ensure they finish above the relegation places.