As first impressions go, Oliver Glasner could hardly have had a better one in the eyes of Crystal Palace supporters.
A 3-0 victory over Burnley thanks to goals from Chris Richards, Jordan Ayew and Jean-Phillippe Mateta from the penalty spot kick-started the Austrian’s regime in style.
Yet for long periods you wondered whether that some old problem – a lack of goals – would see three points elude Glasner.
But on an afternoon where it felt as though the thick fog of gloom that has engulfed Selhurst Park in recent months finally lifted, defender Richards was the man to come up with the goods just over 20 minutes from time.
The American’s diving header from a Jordan Ayew cross finally broke 10-man Burnley’s resistance before Ayew and Mateta’s goals capped off a perfect start to life in English football for Glasner.
As first impressions go, Oliver Glasner could hardly have had a better one on Saturday
Crystal Palace ended a run of three matches without a win by thrashing Burnley 3-0
The Clarets went down to 10 in the first half after Josh Brownhill was shown a straight red
When asked how he could turn Palace’s fortunes around following a run of two wins in 16 games, Glasner promised this week he would find a way to get the goals flowing but joked he was ‘no David Copperfield.’
MATCH FACTS
CRYSTAL PALACE (3-4-4): Johnstone 6; Ward 6, Andersen 6.5 (Tomkins 90+1mins), Richards 7.5; Munoz 7.5, Lerma 7, Wharton 8 (Ahamada 66, 6), Mitchell 6.5; Ayew 8, Mateta 7, Edouard 6 (Franca 72, 7).
Subs not used: Henderson, Clyne, Rodney, Ozoh, Umeh, Plange.
Goals: Richards 68, Ayew 72, Mateta 77.
Booked: Wharton 51, Ayew 90+2.
Manager: Oliver Glasner 8
BURNLEY (4-4-2): Trafford 4; Taylor 5 (Vitinho 75), Esteve 5, O’Shea 5, Assignon 5.5; Odobert 5 (Benson 90+1), Brownhill 4, Berge 5, Gudmundsson 5 (Cork 90+1); Amdouni 5 (Cullen 37, 5.5), Fofana 5 (Rodriguez 90+1).
Subs not used: Muric, Ekdal, Bruun Larsen, Delcroix.
Booked: Esteve 85
Sent off: Brownhill 35
Manager: Vincent Kompany 4
Referee: Lewis Smith 5.5
It looks as though the Austrian has already delved into his box of tricks to help get the team who started the day as the Premier League’s second-lowest scorers firing.
He almost didn’t have to wait long for that opening goal as Burnley almost hit the self-destruct button inside the first 60 seconds.
Dara O’Shea’s wild backpass from just inside his own half sent goalkeeper James Trafford scrambling back towards his goal. Trafford attempt to clear was in vain, but he was relieved to see it drop narrowly wide of his goal. Jefferson Lerma fired just over on the edge of the box from the resulting corner.
The hosts went close again after a well-worked set-piece between Ayew and Adam Wharton saw the ball drop to Joachim Andersen. He fired through the crowd of yellow Burnley shirts but saw his effort palmed away by Trafford.
The influence of 19-year-old Wharton – signed from Blackburn for £22.5million in January – only grew from there as he ran the show on only his fourth top-flight appearance. His cross picked out Odsonne Edouard, who was denied brilliantly by Trafford at his near post from close range.
But moments later, Trafford went from hero to zero. Trying to play out from back, as is the Burnley way, Trafford sold Josh Brownhill short with his pass.
That allowed Lerma, with momentum on his side, to surge past the midfielder and steal the ball, only to be tugged to the ground by Brownhill.
Referee Lewis Smith endured a difficult Premier League debut last weekend but this was the clearest decision he’ll make all season as he sent Brownhill for an early bath.
Into the second-half and it was Wharton who almost suffered the same fate. Already on a yellow, he lunged in on Josh Cullen – also taking out Sande Berge in the process – and failed to win the ball. To the obvious fury of the Burnley bench, the youngster received nothing more than a stern talking to from Smith.
Chris Richards broke the deadlock at Selhurst Park with a diving header in the 68th minute
Ayew doubled the lead moments later, though he was made to wait for it after a VAR review
Glasner turned to his bench in search of a spark and substitute Naouirou Ahamada almost provided it immediately, forcing Trafford into a smart save at his near post.
Eventually the deadlock was broken as Ayew swung in a cross from the left which was met by a diving header from Richards.
From there the hosts ran riot to condemn Burnley to another heavy defeat, their 19th in the league this season.
Ayew doubled the lead moments later, though he was made to wait for it to stand following a lengthy VAR check whether the goal would stand.
Burnley continued to throw bodies forward in desperation but instead saw Smith award a penalty, which Mateta converted, when Vitinho hauled down Franca.
Jean-Philippe Mateta sealed the win for the Eagles from the penalty spot with 11 minutes to go
Vincent Kompany apologised to Burnley supporters after his side continued their miserable form
David Datro Fofana looked to have finally given the away support something to cheer, heading home inside the twelve minutes of stoppage time.
But to cap off a thoroughly miserable day for the Clarets, his goal was ruled out by VAR after Lorenz Assignon was adjudged to have been off-side when he blocked goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.
Really there was nothing that could spoil the feel-good factor around Selhurst Park on an afternoon which belonged to Glasner and Palace.
