WEST BROM 0 CRYSTAL PALACE 2 Zaha (55), Townsend (84)

SECOND-HALF goals from Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend fired relegationthreatened Crystal Palace to a vital win over West Brom.

Zaha lit up a poor Premier League encounter at The Hawthorns when he opened the scoring after a neat piece of skill after 55 minutes.

Townsend wrapped up the victory, Palace’s second in successive games, with a superb solo effort six minutes from time.

The result lifted Palace out of the bottom three and indicated Sam Allardyce’s work is now starting to bear fruit after a frustrating start with the Eagles.

The first half was a disjointed affair with little by way of goalmouth action.

The only effort on target of the opening half came when Christian Benteke rose to meet a corner, but his header was blocked on the line by Chris Brunt.

As a drab first half drew to a close, Rondon appealed for a penalty and then a free-kick just outside the area, but was awarded neither. After such dull fare, Zaha’s strike came out of the blue. The former Manchester United winger controlled a long crossfield pass from Cabaye and then lashed home a left-foot shot from a tight angle.

Finally the game began to come to life, with Zaha charging into the box again, but he lost possession.

Nacer Chadli registered West Brom’s first effort on target, but Wayne Hennessey comfortably saved.

The hosts could not find a way back into the game and, as they pushed up in the latter stages, they were caught by Townsend.

The former Tottenham winger seized possession deep inside his own half and was allowed to run all the way to the West Brom area. He turned Craig Dawson inside out and then beat the slide of Evans to fire home.