Crystal Palace recovered from consecutive defeats to secure a narrow 1-0 victory over Burnley at Turf Moor, moving up to fifth in the Premier League. The win ended a two-game losing streak after defeats to Strasbourg and Manchester United, giving manager Oliver Glasner a morale-boosting result ahead of the busy December schedule.

Munoz Header Decides Tight Contest

The game’s only goal came just before half-time when Daniel Munoz headed home from a perfectly weighted Marc Guehi cross, marking Munoz’s fourth goal of the season in all competitions. The Colombian defender’s decisive strike was the culmination of a period of controlled possession by Palace, exploiting defensive lapses from the Clarets.

Burnley, despite enjoying early possession, struggled to create meaningful opportunities. Their best chance of the first half came from Jean-Philippe Mateta, who skillfully shrugged off Hjalmar Ekdal but fired straight at Palace goalkeeper Martin Dubravka from a tight angle.

Second-Half Drama but Palace Hold On

Burnley’s manager Scott Parker made a flurry of substitutions in the second half, introducing Jacob Bruun Larsen, Marcus Edwards, and Hannibal Mejbri to spark attacking momentum. The home side came close to equalising when Bruun Larsen’s close-range strike rattled the crossbar, and late substitute Armando Broja almost scored with a backward header cleared off the line by Chris Richards.

However, Palace’s defensive resilience ensured all three points, as Burnley suffered a fifth consecutive league defeat, remaining second from bottom in the Premier League table.

Crystal Palace Analysis: Eagles Grind Out Victory

Glasner acknowledged that the victory was far from spectacular but was satisfied with the result. Palace have now matched London rivals Chelsea, Arsenal, and Tottenham with four away league wins so far this season.

Despite limited attacking fluency, the visitors capitalised on Burnley’s defensive lapse. Young summer signing Yeremy Pino had a rare chance to influence the game but failed to convert, illustrating both teams’ struggles in the attacking third during a cagey first 40 minutes.

In the end, Guehi’s cross and Munoz’s finish proved decisive, highlighting Palace’s ability to grind out results even in tight matches.

Burnley Analysis: Clarets Continue to Struggle

Burnley’s lack of attacking potency was evident, with only five goals scored at home in seven Premier League matches—the lowest of any team this season. Parker expressed frustration at defensive lapses that allowed Palace’s winner, particularly Jaidon Anthony’s failure to track Munoz’s run.

The second-half substitutions offered a brief spark, but despite Bruun Larsen hitting the woodwork and Broja’s late attempt, Burnley were unable to break their poor run of form.

Key Players and Performance Ratings

• Crystal Palace Player of the Match: Marc Guehi (8.35)
• Notable contributors included Daniel Munoz (scorer) and Dean Henderson (goalkeeper, crucial saves).
• Burnley’s closest attempts came from Bruun Larsen and Broja, though both were denied by Palace defenders.

What’s Next

• Burnley travel to Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Saturday, 6 December (15:00 GMT).
• Crystal Palace visit Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday, 7 December (16:30 GMT).

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Key Takeaways

• Crystal Palace claim a 1-0 away win at Burnley, moving to fifth in the Premier League.
• Daniel Munoz scores the decisive header from Marc Guehi’s cross.
• Burnley suffer fifth straight league defeat, remaining second bottom.
• Palace match London rivals with four away league wins this season.
• Defensive resilience and opportunism prove decisive in tight encounters.