Crystal Palace 0-1 Burnley: Ben Mee strike enough for Sean Dyche's side to win

A week on from revealing how "ashamed" he was at a plane carrying the message 'White lives Matter Burnley' over the Etihad Stadium during the club's 5-0 thrashing to Manchester City, the defender was impressive throughout in south London.

Mee ended his three-year wait for a goal with a header in the 62nd minute and it sealed a 1-0 win to move Sean Dyche's men up to eighth in the Premier League.

Palace, despite enjoying the better of the contest in the second half, could not respond and suffered a second consecutive defeat.

Burnley were without Jay Rodriguez - the matchwinner against Watford on Thursday - and due to a lack of options, Dyche could only replace him with defender Erik Pieters.

Despite having no Chris Wood, Ashley Barnes or Rodriguez, the Clarets made a strong start at Selhurst Park.

Lone striker Matej Vydra was supported by Dwight McNeil, in an unfamiliar number 10 role, and he should have done better with an effort in the 19th minute.

Ashley Westwood's corner was only partially cleared and traditional winger McNeil drilled over from inside the area.

The Burnley number 11 was on the charge again a minute later, but could only fire tamely at Vicente Guaita, who was back after a thigh problem.

Palace created a chance midway through the first half when Luka Milivojevic found Wilfried Zaha from a short corner and he picked out Gary Cahill, but the defender blazed over on the volley.

In the 36th minute Roy Hodgson's side moved the ball well, which provided space for right-back Joel Ward and his cross found James McArthur, but he headed over from inside the six-yard area.

Before the first half ended there was an exchange of words between Zaha and Burnley assistant Ian Woan, with the former telling the opposition coach to "sit down" which added extra spice to proceedings after the break.

The video assistant referee (VAR) was required early on in the second period but Jordan Ayew avoided a red card for catching Josh Brownhill with his arm.

Referee Simon Hooper showed the first yellow card of the evening to James Tarkowski and James McCarthy followed him into the book three minutes later for a challenge on McNeil.

It would prove costly for the Eagles as Burnley took the lead in the 62nd minute when Westwood's free-kick found captain Mee, and he stooped low to head home from 14 yards.

Guaita would have been disappointed after getting a hand to the effort, but the ball hit the post and rolled in to give the Clarets defender his first goal since January 2017.

Palace, who enjoyed the better of the game after the break, upped the ante and Andros Townsend, Zaha and Ayew all had efforts, but the visitors, aided by Mee's heroics, stood firm to make it back-to-back 1-0 wins.

Opta facts: Crystal Palace 0-1 Burnley

• Crystal Palace have lost three of their last five Premier League home games (W2), as many defeats as they suffered in their previous 13 at Selhurst Park in the top-flight (W5 D5).
• Burnley secured their first Premier League win in their last 11 visits to London (D1 L9) and just their fourth overall in the capital in the competition (31 games).
• Crystal Palace’s starting line-up had an average age of 30 years and 323 days, the second-oldest in the Premier League this season (after the Eagles against Bournemouth on June 20 – 30y 334d).
• Burnley registered their 13th clean sheet of the Premier League season, their most-ever in a campaign in the competition.
• Crystal Palace and Burnley have failed to score in the first half of more Premier League games this season than any other sides (24 each).
• Ben Mee's goal for Burnley was just his fourth-ever in the Premier League and his first in his last 113 appearances in the competition, since scoring against Man City in January 2017.
• Ashley Westwood registered his 14th Premier League assist for Burnley, with only Jóhann Gudmundsson managing more for the Clarets (16).

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