REPORT: Crystal Palace 3-0 Southampton

Crystal Palace blanked Southampton to end a run of six-straight Premier League defeats.

Christian Benteke, who capitalised on a goalkeeping error for his first tally, scored either side of James Tomkins.

It was just Palace’s second Premier League win over Southampton in 15 attempts (4D, 9L) with both coming at Selhurst Park.

Southampton, meanwhile, still have just one victory this season away from St Mary’s (2D, 4L).

Ryan Bertrand nearly gave the visitors a lead in what had been a lacklustre first half when the ball broke to the defender at the edge of the box, but his deflected shot went narrowly wide of the post on 22 minutes.

Palace was then gifted the opening goal in the 33rd minute after Fraser Forster whiffed on an attempted clearance allowing Benteke to slot from close range into an empty net.

Tomkins added to Southampton’s misery making it 2-0 three minutes later, as he tapped in from a corner kick, which had taken a deflection across goal.

Sofiane Boufal had a chance to bring one back before halftime though his right-footed curling effort was easily held by Wayne Hennessey, who had to make just three saves.

With Saints looking to find a way back, second half substitute Shane Long nearly made an instant impact in the 77th minute when he saw his header draw a stop at the near post.

From the resulting corner, Virgil van Dijk looped a header off the crossbar before Jose Fonte stabbed a shot well-wide of the upright following a scramble in the box.

Former Saints man Jason Puncheon helped Palace add a third goal four minutes from full-time when got behind the defence and set up Benteke for a tap in.

Crystal Palace: Hennessey, Tomkins (Kelly 89), Dann, Delaney, Ward, Ledley, McArthur (Flamini 89), Puncheon, Townsend (Sako 80), Zaha, Benteke.

Unused subs: Speroni (GK), Fryers, Lee, Campbell.

Goals: Tomkins (36), Benteke (33, 85)

Bookings: Tomkins (37), McArthur (55), Benteke (71).

Southampton: Forster, Bertrand, van Dijk, Fonte (c), Cedric, Romeu, Hojbjerg (Sims 59), Ward-Prowse, Boufal (Long 76), Redmond, Austin (McQueen 76).

Unused subs: Taylor (GK), Yoshida, Clasie, Davis.

Goals: None.

Bookings: Austin (51).