Premier League - Rodriguez goal enough for Southampton

Tom Ince celebrates after scoring Crystal Palace's opening goal

Jay Rodriguez’s 38th minute solo goal gave Southampton a hard-fought 1-0 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Rodriguez pounced on a poor back-header from Jason Puncheon in the 38th minute on the halfway line to get himself in on goal. Julian Speroni rushed out to meet him outside the area but lost out in the tackle which allowed the England striker to roll the ball into an empty net.

Only his second goal in his last eight games and 11th of the season, Rodriguez’s solo effort would remain the difference between the two sides for the remainder of the game.

The first half started slowly with Palace cancelling out the Saints with some good pressing in the middle of the park. Southampton struggled to find their rhythm and the home side began building up pressure with a series of corners. One such corner was cleared in the 38th minute with Puncheon mopping up on the half-way line. His header to Dean Moxey was short and Rodriguez pounced to get himself in on goal. His first touch was heavy which enticed Speroni out of his penalty area to make a tackle but he lost out to the England striker who was left with an empty goal to roll the ball into.

Just before half-time Rickie Lambert almost put Saints two goals up as he hit the post following Scott Dann’s half cleared header. The ball fell to the big striker who took one touch on his left foot before unleashing his cheeky effort with the outside of his right boot. The ball beat Speroni but bounced back off the post to save Dann’s blushes.

At the other end and another half-cleared header fell to Yannick Bolasie on the edge of the area. His right footed strike was hit hard and true at Artur Boruc who fumbled the initial shot before smothering the loose ball with Glenn Murray ready to pounce.

The second half was mostly uneventful but for a controversial yellow card given to Dejan Lovren after Bolasie burst through on goal in the 48th minute. The winger picked the ball up on the half way line and burst past three players. Lovren was the last man as he chopped Bolasie down on the edge of the area but Howard Webb decided not to send off the Croatian defender as there were two defenders supposedly on the cover.

The win puts Southampton just a point behind eighth place Newcastle while defeat for Palace leaves them just two points from the relegation zone in 16th.