Crystal Palace 2-1 Southampton: Struggling Saints’ dismal form continues as winless run is extended to 10 games after Ivan Juric’s side blew first-half lead
Tyler Dibling scored the first goal of the Ivan Juric era but it wasn’t enough to earn him a first win as Southampton manager.
Dibling was axed for the Boxing Day defeat to West Ham with Juric saying the teenager looked tired.
But he was full of beans to give bottom club Saints a dream start at Selhurst Park.
Only trouble was it didn’t last, with Trevoh Chalobah heading home a controversial equaliser.
Eberechi Eze then smashed home after half time when Saints failed to properly clear their lines.
It all meant that Palace put some breathing space between themselves and the bottom three, while the visitors remain bottom, and seemingly doomed.
Ivan Juric is yet to pick up a point as Southampton manager since joining on December 21
The Saints lie dead last in the Premier League table on six points, nine from relegation safety
Tyler Dibling netted his second goal of the season but it was not enough to secure any spoils
Saints deserved their lead when Dibling fired them in front from close rage after good work from Kyle Walker-Peters and Adam Armstrong.
But the visitors had a problem on corners, with Jean-Philippe Mateta parked in front of Aaron Ramsdale.
And when Will Hughes threw in on the half hour, the pair tussled and Chalobah rose highest to head home.
It certainly looked like Ramsdale had a case in saying Mateta impeded him, but on review VAR Graham Scott disagreed and allowed the goal.
Ramsdale quickly made a great save from Sarr, and then stopped a Jefferson Lerma overhead, from another Hughes corner.
But Southampton clung on until half time, when Juric was first down the tunnel with a face like thunder.
There was renewed zip about them after the break, when a well-worked free-kick routine almost caught Palace out and brought vigorous applause from Juric.
But Eze struck like a bolt from the blue after Saints once again failed to clear properly, smashing his side in front from just outside the box.
Palace ended their four-game winless slump at Selhurst after losing 5-1 by Arsenal last week
Matheus Fernandes wriggled clear at the other end before forcing Dean Henderson to tip his shot over the bar.
But Eze had a free kick narrowly deflected over by a stray boot in the wall shortly afterwards.
And despite Juric clearing his bench his side could not find a way back in it. Has he bitten off more than he can chew?
