Hodgson's Palace win again at floundering Southampton

SOUTHAMPTON, England : Crystal Palace maintained their 100 per cent winning record under Roy Hodgson after Eberechi Eze scored twice in a 2-0 victory over Southampton on Saturday to deal a damaging blow to the south-coast club'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 as the London side won three games in a row for the first time this season.

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 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.