Even in the multimillion pound industry that is the Premier League these days, fate can still overtake all the best-laid preparations. So it proved at Selhurst Park as Bakary Sako crowned his Crystal Palace debut with the winning goal three minutes from time in a match he was not even supposed to be playing in.
A late call-up to replace Yannick Bolasie, after the death of the Democratic Republic of Congo winger’s father on Friday, the free signing had fluffed his lines badly on two occasions before finally finding his shooting boots when it mattered most to end Villa’s hopes of leaving with a point.
It was, as Alan Pardew admitted afterwards, the dream debut, even if the Palace manager freely admitted he had reservations about signing the 27-year-old after his contract with Wolves had expired at the end of last season.
“The chairman deserves a little bit of credit because he kept pushing for him,” Pardew said. “I was saying we needed a left-back – I’d love Sako but perhaps we just need a bit more cover. But we got him so the chairman deserves a little pat on the back.
“Ironically he wasn’t going to start today because Yala would have started for sure,” he added. “Yala was in a great space and, bless his heart, he had some terrible news about his father so that win was for him and his family and hopefully that gives him a lift.”
Having lost seven of their 12 games at Selhurst Park since Pardew’s arrival in January, you could sense the relief among the home support at the final whistle. Villa had dominated the first half thanks to a vibrant display from Jack Grealish, who was making his first start of the season having recovered from a hamstring problem. And after Palace took the lead through Scott Dann, the visitors quickly drew level courtesy of a mesmerising cameo from Adama Traoré.
Signed from Barcelona for an initial £7m, the Spain youth international forced Pape Souaré to stick out a leg that diverted the ball past Alex McCarthy. But Tim Sherwood’s delight turned to anger as a mistake from the young French left-back Jordan Amavi allowed Dann to set up Sako for the game’s defining moment.
“What you see is what you get with young players – you saw Traoré light it up and he’s got no fear,” said the Villa manager. “But on the flip side you see a young boy and outstanding player in Amavi make the wrong decision at the wrong time to take someone on that late in the game, and unfortunately we came away with nothing.”
Pardew had rung the changes at half-time as Palace struggled to find their rhythm and looked like a team with too many players in unfamiliar roles.
The introduction of Dwight Gayle and Jordon Mutch for Wilfried Zaha and Glenn Murray had the desired effect, with the home side improving and Sako soon wasting a gilt-edged opportunity to give his side the lead.
Then came a moment of controversy. James McArthur appeared to check his run as Gayle took aim at goal but there was no doubt he was offside as the ball touched his chest on the way through, even if at first the assistant referee Peter Kirkup did not raise his flag and the goal was initially given, only to subsequently be disallowed. Incensed by the perceived injustice, Palace went on the attack and Sako should have made amends for his earlier miss but smashed his shot wide of the post after more good work from McArthur.
They did not have to wait long to take the lead as Dann rose highest to meet Jason Puncheon’s corner. Traoré’s intervention looked like being the last critical action until Amavi’s rush of blood gave Sako the final word.
“Once he got it on to that left foot I was actually quite confident that he would find the corner because in training he’s been hitting that with real venom,” reflected Pardew on his match-winner. “He will be a real asset for us.”
For the dejected Sherwood, there was still plenty of encouragement. “I thought we played well, we quietened this crowd in the first half. We created chances and unfortunately we were unable to take them. Palace came out a better side in the second half. They scored, we managed to wrestle our way back in, so to lose with three minutes to go was devastating.”
