DANN LETS IT RUN! Oh what a chance it was for Palace to equalise! It almost seems to catch him by surprise as the ball into the area runs through to him at the far post, but he hesitates and can't get the decisive touch! That might do it.
90' +1
C. Clark enters the game and replaces Carles Gil.
Into stoppage time and Villa make their first change. Ciaran Clark comes on as an extra body in defence, with Carles Gil giving way.
90'
Just three minutes to be added on at the end of this match - can Villa hold on for their first victory under Remi Garde?
88'
Into the final minutes now of what promises to be a tense and nervy conclusion for both teams. Some Villa fans can hardly bare to watch. With the was this season has played out, they won't feel sure of the result until long after the full time whistle sounds.
86'
MR. HAPPY FEET! Ayew nearly sends the Villa faithful into rapture as he comes inches away from finishing off an exceptional individual effort that would have been a real goal of the month candidate - but in the end his strike drifts an inch over the bar after dribbling his way beyond three Palace defenders inside the area.
84'
Villa have plenty of space available to them if they can advance the ball up the pitch. A second goal would do so much to relieve the tension in this ground. The last time Crystal Palace conceded twice in a Premier League match on their travels was in a 3-2 victory over Burnley in January 2015.
82'
SCRAMBLED CLEAR BY OKORE! So calmly done by the defender who blasts the ball away to safety in a vital piece of no nonsense defending following a cross in from the right that Wickham so nearly got on the end of!
80'
I. Gueye gets yellow.
Idrissa Gueye becomes the second player booked in as many minutes for a cynical tug on the shirt of a Palace player near the halfway line.
79'
J. Ward gets yellow.
Joel Ward goes into the book after a physical coming together along the touchline.
Minute
Description
78'
M. Jedinak enters the game and replaces J. McArthur.
OH HOW CLOSE! It wouldn't have counted anyhow, as the flag goes up very late to indicate an offside on Kozak, but that was nearly the second goal for Villa as the striker narrowly misses his strike from close range following an excellent passing move. That would have blown the roof off this place.
Final roll of the dice for Pardew who brings on Mile Jedinak at the expense of James McArthur.
76'
Just under 15 minutes for Palace to try and salvage something. They have adopted a greater sense of urgency, and Puncheon is played through down the right by Cabaye. The forward sends a cross in for Zaha, but the ex-Manchester United winger can do precious little with it.
74'
STAT: Crystal Palace have lost just one of their last seven Premier League meetings with Aston Villa (W4, D2).
72'
This looks like anything but a fragile Aston Villa team. They're defending valliantly in an attempt to pick up their first victory under Remi Garde, remaining disciplined and organised at the back. Palace are showing little signs on being able to navigate their way through.
70'
Into the wall! Anticipation and tension builds as Palace wait to take. Mark Clattenburg moves the wall back and finally gives his go ahead, only for Cabaye to rattle his effort straight into the wall of Villa defenders. Letdown, that, for Palace.
68'
J. Veretout gets yellow.
Terrific running from Zaha who is tripped up on the very edge of the 18-yard-box by Vertout, who goes into the referee's book. Palace have a real chance from the set piece to follow...
66'
This has been anything but the Palace side we are used to seeing on their travels this season. Bunn has hardly had a save to make and the Eagles simply aren't posing enough of a threat on the counter. They haven't scored in 336 minutes of Premier League action since Bolasie's injury.
64'
STAT: Aston Villa have conceded the first goal in 15 of their 20 Premier League matches this season, the most of any team in the top flight. They have kept just two clean sheets in the league all season.
62'
M. Chamakh enters the game and replaces B. Sako.
Second change for the visitors who are looking to avoid an embarrassing defeat, as Marouane Chamakh comes on at the expense of Sako.
60'
The crowd is full of belief once again, a rarity this season, and it's put the desire back into the legs of these Villa players. The goal truly was as ugly as you would like, but it couldn't be more fitting as a microcosm of Villa's season to this point.
58'
W. Hennessey is unfortunate, scores an own goal!
Good delivery by Vertout from the corner to pick out Lescott.
A LEAD FOR ASTON VILLA! It hasn't happened often this season, but the Villans have the lead! Lescott rises to meet the corner and sends a header straight at Hennessey, but the keeper makes a meal of it and spills the ball across the line by no more than half an inch!
57'
TOO MUCH FROM AYEW! Exquisite interplay from Villa atop the area as they work the ball around and have Palace on their heels. Bacuna threads a pass through to Ayew, but he tries to flick the ball beyond a defender as opposed to getting a shot off, and the chance goes begging.
56'
Bacuna commits a foul which awards Palace a free kick in a threatening position. Cabaye lifts an inviting delivery behind the defence and right into the danger area, but it's not appropriately attacked and Bunn is able to collect.
54'
STAT: Aston Villa’s Premier League winless run has reached 19 games (D5, L14), tied for the fourth-worst ever.
52'
EXCEPTIONAL FROM KOZAK! The striker takes a pass atop the area amidst a real mess of bodies. It looks as though there is absolutely no way through for him, but somehow he manages to force his way beyond two defenders and get a shot off, which forces Hennessey into a sharp save at his near post.
50'
The three points are there for the taking, it's just a matter of which team wants it more at this point. Which team will take the necessary risks to go forward and get a goal? Which team has the belief and confidence in themselves? That's the area Villa seem to be lacking.
48'
Slow start to the second half, filled with fouls and other stoppages. The ball is being contained largely in midfield and the crowd is starting to grow a bit restless - they know Villa need three points and nothing less is acceptable at this point.
46'
C. Wickham enters the game and replaces J. Ledley.
On at the break is Connor Wickham, who missed the last few games with injury. Joe Ledley is off in his place.
Back underway at Villa Park!
45' +1
HALF TIME: ASTON VILLA 0-0 CRYSTAL PALACE.
45'
There will be one minute added on at the end of this first half.
43'
Approaching the interval now and Villa remain on the front foot, desperate to try and produce a breakthrough before the interval. Their crossing has really lacked conviction in the opening 45 minutes and has taken away from the fact that they are actually finding their way into some excellent areas out wide.
41'
STAT: Crystal Palace have the best defensive record away from home in the Premier League this season, conceding just seven times in nine games (W5, D2, L2).
39'
Successive corner for Villa come to nothing as Palace continue to get the best of the aerial duels. Hennessey is also quite confident in commanding his area, as he comes off his line to collect the second delivery and relieve the pressure on his goal.
37'
CRUCIAL BLOCK! Very impressive, patient play from Ayew atop the area as he twists and turns his way into space for a shot. Anticipation builds in the stands and the Ghana international finally lets fly, but Ledley does so well to get a piece of it to knock the effort behind for a corner.
35'
The game desperately need a goal to open things up a bit. Both sides are reluctant to take chances and commit bodies forward in fear of leaving themselves exposed at the other end, and it has really prevented there from being too many clear-cut scoring chances outside of the first few minutes.
33'
Palace are doing a wonderful job of remaining organised in defence, but their transition play has left plenty to be desired. There is far too much individual play within the team on the counter, guys trying to run the length of the pitch themselves, with support lacking.
31'
The tempo has slowed quite a bit and it's all become quite cagey out on the pitch. Villa still appear in control, but their inability to force Hennessey into action has left the home supporters frustrated.
29'
STAT: Crystal Palace have not scored in any of their three Premier League matches since Yannick Bolasie went down injured (270 minutes).
27'
NEARLY THERE! Great movement from Ayew to elude his marker and get behind the defence on the end of a flick on from Kozak. The crowd cheers as they think the Ghanaian has scored, but his half-volley is sent crashing into the side nettiing!
25'
OFFSIDE! Sako issues a warning to the Villa defence as he creeps behind to get on the end of a ball over the top. He appears to be through on goal, but the hosts are saved as the linesman raises his flag for offside.
23'
Kozak is making himself a good target man in the centre, but he's really struggling to get the better of Delaney and Dann in the air. He needs more support in the central areas, and more movement off the ball from his teammates to help draw some attention off him.
21'
SENSATIONAL HIT! That's the sort of threat Sako poses! From out of nothing really, Villa fail to close down on the striker who seizes the opportunity to drive a shot at goal from range. He makes wicked contact, but Bunn will be relieved to see it drift inches over the bar.
19'
STAT: The eight points Aston Villa have this season is the third lowest any team has managed in the Premier League after 20 games. Sunderland (six in 2005/06) and Derby (seven in 2007/08) were the only who had fewer, and both were relegated.
17'
It seems as though Villa's best route going forward is through the linkup play of Carles Gil and Bacuna along the right. The Dutchman is very prominent on the overlap and has done an exceptional job of finding space up to this point. He just needs to pick out a better final ball.
15'
You get a real sense of the tension in the ground with every stray pass or nery predicament the Villa players get themselves into. The crowd is making plenty of noise, but the collective holding of their breath when the ball is played back and Palace press high up the pitch, is quite telling.
13'
Gueye and Vertout are combining well to pull the string in midfield. They need to be a bit more consistent in producing an end product, however, as another promising move comes to an end as Vertout sends a tame strike straight at Hennessey from range.
11'
This is a very encouraging start for Villa, who are enjoying plenty of possession in the attacking half. They still seem vulnerable when Palace break on the counter, but there is something to be said for the way they are moving the ball around at the moment.
9'
STAT: The last seven league meetings between Aston Villa and Crystal Palace have produced just 10 goals.
7'
Selfish from Bacuna! The Dutchman makes a tidy run into attack and has Westwood screaming out for a pass in all sorts of space to his left, but instead opts to take a shot himself. Ledley blocks it easily, and then Carles Gil fails to pick out Westwood with the follow up as well as another Villa chance goes begging.
5'
Everything has settled down a bit, but it seems as though Palace hitting the post so early on has shocked Villa into life. They're playing with a bit more urgency, almost as if only now have they realized the predicament they find themselves in.
3'
WHAT A PACE TO THIS MATCH! Incredible, lively start in Birmingham as the teams exchange attacks. Kozak sprints onto the end of a long pass and tries to get behind the defence, but has to settle for a corner. The ensuing delivery comes to Westwood atop the area, but his strike sails just wide of the top corner!
2'
OFF THE WOODWORK! Zaha makes strides down the left and works a one-two with Puncheon, with no Villa player sticking with the forward's run. He takes the return pass and curls a shot beyond Bunn, but it rattles square off the woodwork before Villa scramble clear!
1'
Palace get the game underway!
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Crystal Palace’s trip to Birmingham to take on bottom feeders Aston Villa, who are still in search of their first win under Remi Garde. The Villans are staring relegation square in the face and it would require the greatest of all great escapes for them to salvage their place in the Premier League next season. They were poor in their FA Cup game against League Two’s Wycombe on Saturday and the fans seemed to reach a boiling point afterwards. It will be interesting to see how the team responds today, in need of three points. Desperate doesn’t begin to describe it.
Crystal Palace have evolved into road warriors under Alan Pardew. Defensively they’re a hard team to break down, while they have goals all throughout their side. They can relate to Villa’s current predicament, having been in a relegation battle of their own at this stage last season, but they will have little sympathy. A place in the top five is not out of the question for Pardew’s side who can leapfrog Manchester United with three points tonight.
CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS:
ASTON VILLA (4-3-3): Bunn; Bacuna, Okore, Lescott, Cissokho; Vertout, Westwood, Gueye; Carles Gil, Ayew, Kozak.
Plenty of squad rotation from manager Remi Garde following Villa's draw with Wycombe in the FA Cup. Perhaps the most surprising of which is striker Libor Kozak who makes his first start for the club since Boxing Day 2013, pushing Rudy Gestede to the bench. Joleon Lescott is back in defence after resting on the weekend, while Aly Cissokho, Jordan Vertout and Jordan Ayew are also back in the XI ahead of Micah Richards, Ciaran Clark, Kieran Richardson and Scott Sinclair.
Connor Wickham returns to the team after recovering from a calf injury, but starts on the bench. Yohan Cabaye is fit despite suffering a knock against Southampton on the weekend, though Yannick Bolasie remains sidelined with a leg injury. Just two changes for the Eagles from their victory in the FA Cup, as James McArthur and Bakary Sako get the nod ahead of Jordon Mutch and Frazier Campbell.
Wilfred Zaha hit the post and Jordan Ayew the side-netting, the closest either side have come as we head into the break scoreless at Villa Park in what has been a match lacking in attacking quality. Still everything to play for in the second half, with the hosts especially in need of all three points.
Remi Garde picks up his first win as a Premier League manager as Wayne Hennessey's error gifts the Lions three points. It's a 19-match winless skid in the top flight that comes to an end for Villa, who begin what they hope will be the start of a heroic push to safety.
That's all for our coverage from Villa Park. Thanks for joining us here today. Good bye!
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