Palace edge past Burnley to surge into fifth

Crystal Palace returned to winning ways in the Premier League with a hard-earned 1-0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor.

Following a 2-1 defeat to Manchester United on Sunday, the Eagles bounced back courtesy of a 44th-minute header from Daniel Munoz.

Goalkeepers Martin Dubravka and Dean Henderson had work to do at either end before Munoz got his head to Marc Guehi’s superb cross.

Henderson pulled off an outstanding save as Burnley applied the pressure after the break, pushing Jacob Bruun Larsen’s thunderous attempt onto the crossbar.

Armando Broja’s effort was cleared off the line by Chris Richards in stoppage time as Palace held on to ensure they move up to fifth, while Burnley sit 19th.

How the match unfolded

Both goalkeepers were called into action in the opening 15 minutes, with Dubravka first keeping out Jean-Philippe Mateta’s strike before Henderson tipped Jaidon Antony’s curling effort around the post in the next attack.

However, the Eagles broke the deadlock when Munoz managed to guide Guehi’s cross into the bottom-left corner with a deft header.

Watch: Munoz's winner v Burnley

Munoz was involved again early in the second half as he cut back to Mateta in the box, but the Frenchman’s shot was parried away by Dubravka, and Daichi Kamada mistimed his attempt on the rebound.

That chance seemed to wake Burnley up and Bruun Larsen would have levelled proceedings if not for Henderson’s spectacular reactions as the England international just managed to get enough on the shot to direct it against the woodwork.

Burnley saw one final chance go agonisingly close when Broja beat Henderson to a cross, but Richards was alert and able to clear.

Burnley’s London woes continue

It is now five straight league defeats for Burnley, and each of those have come against a team hailing from the capital.

Defeats against Arsenal and West Ham United were followed by losses to Chelsea and Brentford, with Scott Parker’s team remaining entrenched in the bottom three after this latest encounter.

The Clarets showed some positive signs in the second half, with the introductions of Hannibal Mejbri and Bruun Larsen, but it was not enough to find a way past Henderson.

Parker would have also been hoping for a bigger impact from joint-top scorer Zian Flemming, who was making his 50th appearance in all competitions for the club, while Lyle Foster also struggled in the final third.

A goal for Broja at the death would have done him the world of good, with the Albania international last scoring in the Premier League in the 2023/24 season, but it was not to be for the 24-year-old.

And things do not get any easier for Burnley as they face a trip to Newcastle United on Saturday.

Flying wing-backs have the Eagles soaring

Once again for Oliver Glasner, his wing-back pairing of Munoz and Tyrick Mitchell managed to provide the crucial impact.

Munoz, like he did at Wolverhampton Wanderers in their last away trip in the league, scored the opener to relieve some of the pressure on his side.

Similarly, Mitchell’s only goal this season was the winner in Palace’s 2-1 win at the London Stadium against West Ham.

But it was his defensive abilities that were on show at Turf Moor, with Burnley enjoying very little success down their right wing as Mitchell and Guehi worked well together against Loum Tchaouna, who was taken off at half-time.

Munoz and Mitchell’s desire to constantly make overlapping runs also allowed Yeremy Pino and Kamada to take up more central positions, causing Burnley problems when defending.

With trips to Fulham in the league and Shelbourne in the UEFA Conference League up next before a busy Christmas period, which also features an EFL Cup quarter-final against Arsenal, the form and fitness of both wing-backs could be vital for Palace.

Club reports

Burnley report | Palace report

What the managers said

Scott Parker: "I think it's fair to say we should have got something from that game. We were on the wrong side of the fine margins. Overall, in terms of what this young team showed, the courage and the bravery were pleasing for me."

"We're in for a huge battle. We need to be consistent in our behaviours. This is how it is and I have a group that will relish and embrace this challenge. I see a brave group of men who are taking on this challenge."

Oliver Glasner: "We fought for each other and that's why it is an important win. It would help sometimes [to score another goal] because everyone knows in the Premier League that any team can score. The commitment to the team was to a high standard. I am really proud of the team and how they stuck together today."

Next PL fixtures

Key facts

Palace have collected 23 points from their opening 14 Premier League games this season (W6 D5 L3), with this the Eagles’ highest ever tally at this stage of a campaign in the competition.

No side have kept more clean sheets than Palace in the Premier League across 2025 (14, alongside Arsenal and Manchester City), while the Eagles have kept a shutout in four of their last five league games.

Since the start of last season, Crystal Palace’s  Munoz has scored more goals than any other defender in the Premier League (seven).

Burnley have failed to score in each of their last three home Premier League matches – their longest goalless run on home soil in the competition since March/April 2022 under Sean Dyche.