Crystal Palace continued their superb run under manager Roy Hodgson as they defeated Southampton 2-0 on Saturday to move nine points clear of the drop zone. The London side now has won three games in a row for the first time this season.
Palace also maintained their 100% winning record under Hodgson.
Eberechi Eze scored twice to deal a damaging blow to the south-coast club Southampton's Premier League survival hopes.
In a game between the youngest and oldest managers in the English top flight, it was 75-year-old Roy Hodgson who triumphed over 39-year-old Ruben Selles.
Southampton were dominant in the first half but failed to make their chances count while Palace's Michael Olise did have the ball in the back of the net but it was ruled out for offside.
Palace broke the deadlock nine minutes into the second half when Jordan Ayew's cross was parried by goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu straight into the path of Eze, whose eyes lit up for an easy tap-in.
Eze doubled the lead with a moment of individual brilliance when the 24-year-old turned to get past a defender, briefly looked up and drilled a shot from 25 yards into the bottom corner for his seventh goal of the season.
The result moved 12th-placed Palace nine points clear of the drop zone while Southampton are four points behind 17th-placed Everton with nine games left this season.
(With inputs from Reuters)
