Matheus Franca scored his first objective in English soccer to earn some extent for Crystal Palace from a 1-1 draw with bottom-of-the-table Southampton.
The 21-year-old – who had not performed a Premier League recreation since March 2024 on account of damage – was launched with just below quarter-hour to play at St Mary’s and headed in a Jefferson Lerma cross to attain the decisive equaliser after 92 minutes.
Till that time, Paul Onuachu’s first-half header had regarded to have secured a primary league win since November 2 for Saints, who stay 19 factors from security with simply eight video games left to play this season.
They may now be relegated as early as Sunday in the event that they lose to Spurs and Wolves beat Ipswich.
One small comfort for Ivan Juric’s aspect, nevertheless, is that they prevented changing into solely the third staff in high flight historical past to lose 10 house video games in succession.
Southampton are seemingly resigned to their destiny; Juric has stated it himself. “We will go down, but [we want to go down] with more fight, more dignity and more everything,” he stated after the 2-1 defeat to Wolves earlier than the March worldwide break.
In consequence, he employed a gung-ho method from the off at St Mary’s – but it surely virtually backfired instantly. Some slack defending allowed Jean-Philippe Mateta the liberty of the south coast to select his spot from 20 yards and crash a shot again off the underside of the crossbar, with Aaron Ramsdale overwhelmed.
The hosts didn’t return into their shells, nevertheless, and took a shock lead 20 minutes in, when Flynn Downes and Mateus Fernandes linked up brilliantly, earlier than the latter delivered a cross that Onuachu powered into the underside nook.
He later spurned two respectable probabilities to increase the lead, however not earlier than Mateta drew a pointy low save from Ramsdale after a luxurious management and beautiful shot on the flip.
Oliver Glasner made three modifications simply earlier than the hour, however Ben Chiwell, Daichi Kamada and Eddie Nketiah didn’t spark his aspect into motion. For lengthy intervals, they regarded a shadow of the aspect that beat Fulham on the weekend to e book a spot within the FA Cup quarter-finals.
By the ninetieth minute, the prospect of surpassing Derby’s document was inside touching distance for Saints, however, maybe naively, they nonetheless wished so as to add one other, simply to ensure. It was symptomatic of their depressing season up to now that they might concede once more.
And that is precisely what occurred, as Taylor Harwood-Bellis’ headed clearance returned the ball to Lerma, who picked out Franca to go house and break Southampton hearts yet again.
Juric: We deserved to win – I am actually sorry we did not
Southampton supervisor Ivan Juric:
“I’m very proud of the way we played today and very disappointed we didn’t get the win because we did almost everything good.
“I am actually sorry for the followers and the blokes that they did not win as a result of I feel they deserved it.
“It was just a moment. I kept feeling we were in control of the game, that we don’t risk anything. They didn’t create anything or were dangerous.
“I had a extremely good feeling after which they have been good within the second, they have been good within the cross and different issues. I feel the gamers made a step ahead. I had an excellent feeling we might compete immediately.
“We gain one point, we have to prepare well the next game and if we play like this every game we will gain the points. We just have to find a way to perform on Sunday to make the fans happy and to try to do our best.”
Glasner admits FA Cup win at Fulham took its toll
Crystal Palace supervisor Oliver Glasner:
“It’s a very good point, especially how the game was. It was tough, I think everyone could see it.
“You possibly can see we weren’t at our high stage. I feel we have been mentally drained after the massive win at Fulham.
“It’s nothing to do with tired physically, we were fresh but we were mentally tired.
“We missed somewhat bit however I’m actually happy with the purpose immediately and happy with the group as a result of they felt it as effectively.
“A symbol of this game was a free-kick from Eberechi Eze when he kicked the ball into the stand and I think many teams wouldn’t have come back but this group of players came together and pushed each other on the pitch.
“So I’m actually happy about this spirit, about this togetherness. And immediately it was extra about preventing for this level. And that is why I am actually happy.
“We have to stay humble, we can’t go everywhere and take it for granted we will get the win.”
