Burnley 1-0 Crystal Palace: Chris Wood fires Clarets to first win of season

Chris Wood’s early strike was enough to steer Burnley to their first win of the season after a 1-0 defeat of a Wilfred Zaha-less Crystal Palace on Monday.

Wood finally got Burnley off the mark with the Clarets’ first home goal of the season after just eight minutes to give the hosts the lead.

With Zaha missing after he tested positive for coronavirus before the match and is now self-isolating, Palace looked flat in response, with Michy Batshuayi wasting their best chance for an equaliser.

Burnley withstood a late onslaught to see out a much-needed three points to move them out of the bottom three, while Palace stay in 10th.

Chasing that first home goal of the season, it took Burnley just eight minutes, with their 30th shot of the season, to find the back of the net, Wood latching onto a flick from Jay Rodriguez before hammering home.

In Zaha’s absence, Eberechi Eze was the most lively Palace player in the first half, but he had little movement ahead of him so was easily stifled by the Clarets’ rearguard.

The visitors were improved in the second half, but Burnley should have doubled their lead just 10 minutes into the second half, only for Johann Berg Gudmundsson to see his effort come out off the crossbar.

Roy Hodgson threw on Christian Benteke, who caused problems, but a mixture of poor finishing, and fine goalkeeping from Nick Pope kept Benteke and Palace at bay, much to the relief of Clarets watching from afar.

Since the start of 2014-15, when Wilfried Zaha re-joined Crystal Palace, the Eagles have lost 20 of their 28 Premier League games without their leading light in the side (W7 D1), including each of the last seven away from home.

Ebere Eze was by far the biggest Palace threat in Zaha's absence at Turf Moor, but with a lack of options ahead of him, there was only so much the young man could do.

Michy Batshuayi was poor, which is understandable given his lack of game time, while Christian Benteke did what Christian Benteke does - not much. Zaha is needed back, sharpish.

It was not the volume of saves that Pope made, but the quality of them. He was alert to Dwight McNeil's woeful back pass to block Batshuayi's effort in the second half, while his bravery to block Benteke's late effort effectively won the game for his side.

Burnley: Pope 8, Lawton 6, Mee 7, Tarkowski 7, Taylor 7, Gudmundsson 7, Brownhill 6, Westwood 6, McNeil 7, Rodriguez 6, Wood 7… Subs: Brady 5, Pieters N/A.

Palace: Guaita 6, Clyne 6, Riedewald 5, Dann 6, Van Aanholt 6, Kouyate 5, McArthur 6, Townsend 5, Batshuayi 4, Eze 6… Subs: Schlupp 6, Benteke 6.

8’ - GGGGGOOOOOOOOOOAAALLLLL!!!! Burnley 1-0 Palace. At long last the Clarets have a home goal, Chris Wood with it! Long ball into the Palace box causes problems, but Cheikhou Kouyate gets his clearance all wrong, Rodriguez flicks it on for Wood, who scores his second the season to get Burnley up and running at Turf Moor.

19’ - SAVE! Yet another long punt forward is not dealt with by Palace, Rodriguez latches on to a flick on, but cannot beat Guaita with a toe poke at the far post.

55’ - CROSSBAR! Great football from Burnley, McNeil threads it through for Gudmundsson, who has time to pick his spot, but is denied by the crossbar. Big let off for Palace.

61’ - SAVE! Too comfortable! Awful back pass from McNeil inexplicably sets Batshuayi through on goal, but Pope races from his line to narrow the angle and make a smart block.

89’ - WHAT A SAVE! Brave goalkeeping from Pope, as he throws himself at Benteke's close-range prod to block with his left arm. He stays down afterwards, but he could have just won his side the match,.

Burnley have won back-to-back Premier League games against Crystal Palace having lost four consecutive matches against the Eagles between prior to this.

Burnley have picked up their first Premier League victory of 2020-21 (P8 W1 D2 L5), with this their first win in the competition since beating Norwich 2-0 in July (winless in eight prior to today).

Crystal Palace have kept just one clean sheet in their last 17 Premier League games, conceding in eight consecutive matches since a 1-0 victory against Southampton in September.

Chris Wood’s opener for Burnley was their first Premier League goal at Turf Moor this season (278th minute of action and 30th attempt at goal), meaning all sides across the top four tiers of English football have now scored a home goal in 2020-21.

Since making his Premier League debut for Burnley (27-08-2017), Chris Wood has scored 36 goals in the competition, at least nine more than any other player for the Clarets.

Jóhann Gudmundsson made his 100th Premier League appearance for Burnley this evening becoming the 10th player to reach this milestone for the Clarets in the competition