Sarr double helps Palace sweep Aston Villa aside

Ismaila Sarr joined Crystal Palace from Marseille last August

Ismaila Sarr's double helped a clinical Crystal Palace sweep Aston Villa aside at Selhurst Park to continue their push towards the top half of the Premier League table.

The Eagles' home form has been an issue for manager Oliver Glasner, as before Tuesday night's match they had won just twice in the league on their own turf.

It looked like that form was going to continue when Jacob Ramsey had the ball in the net with a neat finish but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Palace forward Ismaila Sarr scored his first of the match in the 29th minute when a Chris Richards header was pushed out by Emi Martinez and Sarr was on hand to tap in from close range.

Villa were a lot better after conceding and thought they had drawn level late in the first half when Morgan Rogers exchanged passes with Ollie Watkins and scored from inside the penalty area but the goal was ruled out by the video assistant referee (VAR).

Rogers did score to bring Villa level early in the second half after exchanging passes with Watkins, before Jean-Philippe Mateta restored Palace's lead with an excellent curled finish past substitute goalkeeper Robin Olsen, on after Martinez did not come out for the second half.

Sarr then got his second of the game when Daniel Munoz crossed low into the box and the Senegal striker steered the ball into the far corner, before substitute Eddie Nketiah added a fourth for Palace late on.

The result leaves Glasner's side in 12th position, after losing just three of their past 15 league games.

Palace continue to grow into season

The Palace resurgence after their slow start this season has been quite something.

They started the campaign winning only one of their opening 10 games but are now challenging for a place in the top half, with the prospect of an FA Cup quarter-final if they can get past London rivals Millwall on Saturday.

One player who sums up Palace's change in fortunes is Mateta.

Before Glasner became manager there will not have been many Palace supporters who would have argued against Mateta leaving the club, but since last season his progress has been nothing short of sensational.

Mateta had scored just 11 goals in 81 games for Palace before Glasner's appointment but has registered 25 goals in 40 games since the Austrian took over.

He scored 16 goals in the Premier League last season and with 12 already this term he looks set to beat that tally.

Sarr has become a crucial part of this Palace side and marked his 27th birthday with two goals.

Glasner has turned Palace around and with key player Adam Wharton starting his first Premier League game since October and the chance to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals, the season could have an exciting ending for them.

Villa form floundering at crucial time

Unai Emery changed the Aston Villa system for this game and his side lined up in a 3-4-3 formation to match the Eagles.

The change in tactics did not have the desired effect and the Villa boss changed it at half-time, moving to a more familiar back four.

That tweak almost worked and Rogers' goal had Emery thumping the dugout in celebration as he hoped it would be the start of a Villa turnaround.

However, that was not to be and Villa have now won just one of their past six matches in the top flight.

They had the added blow of Argentina goalkeeper Martinez coming off at half-time with what seemed to be an injury, and could be without their first-choice keeper in an important part of the season.

Villa are still in touch with the Champions League places and are in the knockout stage of the competition, alongside being in the last 16 of the FA Cup.

But Emery needs his side to pick up some wins and members of his squad to regain fitness if their season is not to end in disappointment.