Aston Villa 1-0 Crystal Palace

Aston Villa secured back-to-back wins courtesy of a 1-0 triumph over 10-man Crystal Palace at Villa Park.

Joachim Andersen’s 27^th-minute own goal settled a tight affair which saw clear goalscoring opportunities kept to a minimum.

Cheick Doucoure was dismissed just after the hour mark for the visitors having received two yellow cards in the space of five minutes, with Villa, who lost Boubacar Kamara to injury in the second half, going on to record a second successive clean sheet.

It was only a second win in six home matches in the Premier League as Unai Emery’s side moved on to 34 points.

Victory also ensured the Villans are now unbeaten in their last six meetings with the Eagles on home soil, losing only one of the last 12 in all competitions stretching back to 1992.

Emi Buendía and Álex Moreno returned to Villa’s starting line-up having both made positive contributions as second-half substitutes in last weekend’s 2-0 victory at Everton.

Villa, 11^th in the table, started the day just one place and four points above the Eagles.

But it was the visitors who saw Wilfried Zaha’s early effort ruled out for offside following a VAR review.

Both sides looked to get a foothold in the opening quarter, and Villa registered the crucial breakthrough in the 27^th minute.

John McGinn played a superb defence-splitting pass down the right channel for Matty Cash, whose low cross was met by a sliding Andersen and his trailing leg diverted the ball past Vicente Guaita.

In-form Ollie Watkins looked destined to double Villa’s advantage on the stroke of half-time having been sent clean through by Buendía, but the striker pulled his effort inches wide of a post from 12 yards.

Villa suffered a blow as Kamara hobbled off just before the hour mark, replaced by Calum Chambers.

And the Villa substitute was immediate at the heart of the action, fouled on the halfway line by Doucoure, who was shown a second yellow card and given his marching orders.

Zaha flashed an effort off target for Palace before head coach Emery turned to Lucas Digne and Leon Bailey off the bench.

Clear-cut openings continued to be at a premium for both sides, Jhon Durán introduced as a late substitute.

But Villa remained professional and saw out the clash to record all three points.