Premier League winners and losers: Deja vu for Burnley
By Ty Finch
Winner: Crystal Palace
If it feels like Palace are in this column every week in some form, it’s because they (almost) are. They got off to the worst start in Premier League history, failed to score a goal in their first seven matches and then beat Chelsea 2-1 in their eighth. It’s been a roller coaster of a season for the Eagles so far, and that continued Saturday in their match against Stoke.
Stoke took a lead early on in the second half after Xherdan Shaqiri’s great run and powerful shot found the back of the net in the 53rd minute. It looked like Stoke would set up shop in their own half and try to see out the game afterwards, and Palace were in trouble yet again. But three minutes later, Ruben Loftus-Cheek equalized and Palace were right back in it.
The rest of the match up until the 92nd minute was a cagey affair, as both teams didn’t want to give up the point. Palace were awarded a corner kick in the 91st minute that found its way to Wilfried Zaha in the opposite corner. His second attempted cross went to Yohan Cabaye, whose shot bounced off the post and straight onto Mamadou Sakho’s foot, just inches from goal. He tucked the ball away to give Palace three points for just the second time all season.
Swansea’s main competitors for relegation, Swansea, West Ham and West Brom, all picked up a point over the weekend, so Sakho’s winner was even more vital for survival. Although they remain bottom of the table, Palace are just three points from safety, remarkable considering their nightmare start.