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BIRMINGHAM, berkah anak yatim March 4 (Reuters) — A Joachim Andersen own goal proved the difference as Aston Villa secured a 1-0 home win over Crystal Palace in a dire Premier League clash on Saturday, after the visitors’ midfielder Cheick Doucoure was sent off.
The result leaves Villa in 11th place on 34 points from 25 games, while Palace are 12th, with Patrick Vieira’s side yet to taste a league victory in 2023 — the longest current winless run in the league.
Wilfried Zaha, making his return after missing Palace’s last four games due to injury, thought he had opened the scoring early on when he dribbled past goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to slot home, but it was ruled out for offside following a VAR review.
The hosts then got their noses in front in the 27th minute when Matty Cash whipped in a low cross across the face of goal and Palace defender Andersen inadvertently put the ball into his own net.
Palace’s afternoon went from bad to worse after halftime, with Doucoure sent off in the 62nd minute after earning a second yellow card for clattering into Villa defender Calum Chambers.
John McGinn drew an excellent save from Palace keeper Vicente Guaita in the 74th minute with an effort from close range, which would go down as the only shot on target of a game that had precious few clear chances.
(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru Editing by Toby Davis)