Crystal Palace 0-2 Southampton: Saints secure first league win of season
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Southampton had only won two of their previous 15 away games in the Premier League
Southampton boss Mark Hughes said his players had shown a "real purpose" after they secured their first win of the Premier League season with victory at Crystal Palace.
Danny Ings, signed on loan from Liverpool in the summer, confidently netted his second goal of the campaign to put the visitors in front after being set up by Cedric Soares.
Substitute Charlie Austin, who scored the Saints' Carabao Cup winner against Brighton in midweek, had the chance to double the lead on 65 minutes but his weak penalty - after Aaron Wan-Bissaka's handball - was saved by Wayne Hennessey.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg added the second in stoppage time after the visitors, with two defeats and one point from their opening three matches, had to soak up concerted pressure in the closing stages.
"The last two weeks, since the Everton defeat, I've seen a real purpose to everything we have done in terms of application and a desire to get points on the board," said Hughes.
"We were excellent today. We got our noses in front but we made it nervous towards the end. The penalty miss put us on edge and we just needed to calm ourselves down after that."
Prior to Austin's penalty miss, James McArthur had gone close to equalising for the hosts - who were without the injured Wilfried Zaha - when his curling effort struck the crossbar.
At the other end, the brilliant Alex McCarthy - called up to the England squad this week - denied Palace striker Christian Benteke from close range after an earlier save from Luka Milivojevic's volley.
Saints' victory was Hughes' first at Selhurst Park in six attempts as a Premier League manager, and condemned the Eagles to a third consecutive league defeat.
Relief for Hughes as Saints get a win
Southampton were excellent - Hughes
Southampton arrived in south London having made a slow start to the season - a goalless draw with Burnley preceding consecutive defeats by Everton and Leicester.
And, though there is perhaps no immediate concern, a team that ended last season hovering precariously above the relegation zone need to start showing signs of progress.
Buoyed by their midweek win, Hughes' side took control of a first half that lacked any real quality, though Hennessey was alert on the occasions the energetic Ings and Shane Long did find a way through a well-drilled defence.
Saints returned from the interval with confidence, and Ings' well-executed goal looked to have set the tone for the visitors, who pressed in pursuit of a second.
But Austin's penalty miss gave Palace momentum and caused concern for Hughes, whose side have lost 24 points from winning positions since the start of the 2017-18 season.
As it was, his players held firm to keep the hosts out, before Hojbjerg sealed the win.
"In the first half we were in total control of the game and should have been a few goals to the good," said Hughes.
"We had to withstand a little bit of pressure but, if we keep playing at the level we're at, we'll get breaks and win games."
Palace struggle without Zaha
Southampton were the better team - Hodgson
Zaha was a surprise omission from the Palace squad, with the club later revealing he had strained an abductor muscle in training on Friday.
That was five days after the 25-year-old became the Eagles' record Premier League goalscorer when he scored his 24th goal in the competition against Watford.
Without a player who had scored seven of their past nine league goals, Roy Hodgson's side failed to make a breakthrough against a resolute Saints defence.
Since the start of last season, Palace have lost all 10 Premier League games in which Zaha has not featured.
"He didn't play and again we didn't win. It's a pure fact that we have to learn to live with," said Hodgson.
Summer addition Jordan Ayew made his debut in place of Zaha, but it was Serbia international Milivojevic who went closest for the hosts in the first half with a lovely volleyed effort that McCarthy was equal to, before Benteke was denied a first goal from open play since January.
It is almost a year since Hodgson's appointment - the former England manager having replaced Dutchman Frank de Boer following a disastrous start to the season - and Palace have come a long way since.
But, having squandered numerous chances to level the match, they have now lost three league games in a row and will need to keep Zaha fit if they are to kick on this season.
"We shouldn't have got something out of the match," said Hodgson. "I was hoping after the penalty save we would show spirit and fight. They did show endeavour to get the equaliser but, over the 90 minutes, Southampton were the better team and deserved it."
Man of the match - Alex McCarthy (Southampton)
Fresh from his England call-up, the Saints goalkeeper produced six key saves to secure a hard-earned clean sheet
The Zaha effect - the stats
Hodgson's side failed to score in consecutive home league games for the first time under the former England manager.
Benteke has scored three goals in his past 36 Premier League appearances for Palace, after scoring 15 in his 35 before that.
Southampton have won five of their past seven away league games against Palace, losing the other two.
Saints have won two of their past three away matches in the Premier League, which is as victories as in their previous 18.
Ings has scored in three consecutive away league appearances for the first time.
Hojbjerg scored his first Premier League goal in his 47th appearance in the competition.
What's next?
The Premier League resumes in two weeks, following the first international break of the season.
Palace travel to Huddersfield on Saturday, 15 September (15:00 BST), while Southampton are at Brighton on Monday, 17 September (20:00).