Crystal Palace dominates Aston Villa 4-1 with Sarr’s double, Wharton’s return, and VAR controversies. Glasner praises progress; Emery laments inconsistency.
Crystal Palace delivered a commanding performance against Aston Villa, securing a 4-1 victory at Selhurst Park. The match, filled with milestones and VAR controversies, saw Palace climb to 12th in the Premier League, while Villa’s aspirations for a top-four finish suffered a significant setback.
The game began with both teams vying for control. Aston Villa initially found the net through Jacob Ramsey, but the goal was quickly disallowed for offside. Crystal Palace then capitalized, with Ismaila Sarr opening the scoring after a precise pass from Adam Wharton to Chris Richards. VAR briefly reviewed Richards’ positioning but the goal stood, boosting Palace’s confidence.
Key Moments and Performances
Ismaila Sarr was a standout performer, celebrating his 27th birthday with two goals. Adam Wharton, returning from injury, played a pivotal role in Palace’s midfield, contributing to three of the goals. Jean-Philippe Mateta also found the net, continuing his impressive scoring form.
In the second half, Villa’s Morgan Rogers equalized after a long ball from substitute goalkeeper Robin Olsen. However, Palace quickly responded with Mateta restoring their lead. Sarr then added his second goal with a well-taken volley, and Eddie Nketiah, a summer signing from Arsenal, scored his first Premier League goal for Crystal Palace in added time.
VAR Decisions and Controversies
Aston Villa had two goals ruled out by VAR, adding to their frustration. Jacob Ramsey’s early goal was disallowed for offside, and later, Morgan Rogers had a potential equalizer overturned due to Ollie Watkins being offside in the buildup.
Managerial Perspectives
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner praised his team’s hard work and progress. He acknowledged the initial bumpy start to the season due to late player arrivals and pre-season challenges but emphasized the team’s unity and development.
“We all get the reward and the players get the reward for their hard work,” Glasner said. “We expected it and I mentioned it quite often that the start [of the season] would be quite bumpy. Pre-season not going in the perfect way, many players arriving late. The most important thing is that we stayed together and worked hard.”
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery expressed his frustration with the result and his team’s inconsistency. He highlighted the difficulty of playing away in the Premier League and acknowledged Palace’s good form and tactical structure.
“This is the Premier League and it’s very difficult, each match and playing away even more so,” Emery said. “They are in good form, they have very good structure tactically and to stop them at the beginning was our idea, our plan.”
Player Ratings
Crystal Palace: Henderson (6), Richards (8), Lacroix (7), Guehi (7), Munoz (7), Wharton (8), Hughes (7), Mitchell (6), Eze (7), Sarr (9), Mateta (8). Subs: Lerma (6), Kamada (6), Nketiah (7)
Aston Villa: Martinez (7), Garcia (4), Konsa (4), Disasi (4), Digne (4), McGinn (3), Bogarde (4), Tielemans (3), Ramsey (6), Rogers (7), Watkins (6). Subs: Olsen (6), Bailey (4), Rashford (5), Asensio (5), Maatsen (n/a)
Wharton’s Impact
Adam Wharton’s return to the starting lineup was a significant boost for Crystal Palace. He demonstrated his quality with precise passes and played a key role in the team’s attacking moves. His performance caught the eye of England boss Thomas Tuchel, who was in attendance.
“He played excellent,” Glasner said. “When you see the second goal, with his pass to Eberechi Eze. This is his quality, his pre-orientation.”
Match Statistics and Summary
The victory marked Crystal Palace’s fourth win in six games, lifting them to 12th place in the Premier League. For Aston Villa, the defeat was their seventh in the last nine away matches. The game featured strong performances from Sarr, Wharton, and Mateta, while Villa struggled with defensive errors and VAR decisions.
Crystal Palace’s ability to capitalize on their chances and maintain intensity throughout the game proved decisive. The win provides a significant boost to their confidence as they aim for a strong finish to the season.
Sources: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cgkmjngy6yvo
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11677/13316330/crystal-palace-4-1-aston-villa-unai-emerys-side-suffer-major-blow-in-race-for-europe-as-eagles-run-riot
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/feb/25/crystal-palace-aston-villa-premier-league-match-report