Aston Villa’s top-four dreams take a massive hit as Crystal Palace dismantle them in a stunning 4-1 rout

Crystal Palace shattered Aston Villa’s European ambitions with a ruthless 4-1 victory at Selhurst Park, leaving Unai Emery’s side in crisis after a night of VAR heartbreak and defensive meltdowns.

Villa thought they had struck first when Jacob Ramsey slotted home, but celebrations were cut short by an offside flag. Moments later, Palace seized the lead—Ismaila Sarr tapping in from close range after a precise cross from Chris Richards. A VAR review confirmed the goal, and from that moment, the Eagles never looked back.

Sarr nearly doubled his tally before half-time, only for Emi Martínez to deny him with a world-class stop. Villa, still reeling from their disallowed goal, had another chalked off when Morgan Rogers’ finish was ruled out following yet another tight offside call.

After the break, Villa finally pulled one back. Stand-in keeper Robin Olsen launched a long ball forward, Ollie Watkins flicked it on, and Rogers produced a stunning improvised finish to level the score. But any hope of a comeback was swiftly crushed.

Minutes later, Jean-Philippe Mateta restored Palace’s lead with a superb left-footed strike. Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford were thrown on in desperation, but Villa’s defence completely fell apart as Sarr struck again with a composed side-footed volley past Olsen.

Palace sealed the demolition job in added time when substitute Eddie Nketiah got in on the action, slotting home to make it four. The win lifts Oliver Glasner’s side into 12th, while Villa’s top-four dreams are now hanging by a thread, as they drop to 10th.

Wharton Steals the Show as Tuchel Watches On

With England boss Thomas Tuchel in attendance, Palace’s Adam Wharton delivered a masterclass in midfield. Making his first start since October, the 21-year-old dictated play, recording 14 final-third passes—more than any other Palace player—and playing a crucial role in three of their four goals.

“He was excellent,” Glasner said post-match. “You can see his vision, his ability to execute passes. He’s been out for months, but tonight he showed what he can do.”

Wharton, a forgotten name in Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad, has now given Tuchel plenty to think about ahead of England’s next squad announcement.

Emery Admits Villa’s Inconsistency is Costing Them

A frustrated Unai Emery conceded Villa’s lack of consistency is now a serious problem.

“We have to be frustrated,” he admitted. “We are losing big opportunities like today. We didn’t deserve more. Three clean sheets in 28 games is a concern.”

With FA Cup and Champions League fixtures on the horizon, Emery suggested Villa may now shift focus away from the league. “We will try to leave the Premier League in the corner for now and concentrate on our other competitions,” he added.

Glasner Hails Palace Progress

Palace boss Oliver Glasner praised his side’s development, insisting the team is finally clicking after a slow start under his management.

“The players are getting rewarded for their hard work,” he said. “We had a difficult pre-season, but now you can see the progress. The team understands how we want to play, and they are executing it perfectly.”

For Palace, the future looks increasingly bright. For Villa, this was a nightmare result—one that could define their season.