LONG WAIT OVER

Shane Long turns away in celebration after scoring for the first time in 325 days at St Mary’s last night. Long’s 17thminute strike enabled him to end a run of 36 games for club and country without a goal, but he still ended up on the losing team as Crystal Palace fought back to beat Southampton 2-1

EVEN the long-awaited return to goalscoring form of Shane Long failed to restore the winning feeling to Southampton, who extended their winless run under Mauricio Pellegrino to nine games as Crystal Palace once again demonstrated their remarkable resilience.

In woeful conditions, Roy Hodgson’s side scored two second-half goals, through James McArthur and Luka Milivojevic, to wash away the memory of Long’s first goal since February, 2017.

To produce such a fightback would be impressive in any circumstance, but to do so in a full-blown storm, just two days after their last game, is testament to how far this Palace outfit has come since Hodgson’s arrival.

Long finally broke his duck with little more than 15 minutes played. The Irishman’s goal arrived after a sharp move down the left, with Ryan Bertrand’s cross turned back into the centre of the box by opposite full-back Jeremy Pied. Long, unmarked, quickly lashed a first-time shot inside Wayne Hennessey’s post.

Wilfried Zaha was a threat for Palace, but Hodgson’s men looked as jaded as one might expect just two days after their exhausting draw with Manchester City.

Palace had the wind at their backs in the second half and gradually began to control proceedings. The equaliser was deserved. Christian Benteke nodded across goal, where McArthur was waiting to slam the ball into the roof of the net. The winner came 10 minutes later, as Milivojevic swept home a curling finish from the edge of the box.

Zaha should have made it three by the end, but skied his shot as the chants of “You’re getting sacked in the morning” joined the rain in pouring on Pellegrino.