CRYSTAL PALACE 0
BURNLEY 2 Barnes (8), Gray (84)
BURNLEY broke their away- day duck and eased their relegation fears as goals from Ashley Barnes and Andre Gray secured the points at Crystal Palace.
Barnes struck after just eight minutes, and Tom
Heaton kept Palace at bay before substitute Gray hit a late second, to ensure the Clarets finally registered their first success on the road this season.
It was also Burnley’s first ever Premier League victory in London – at the 16th attempt – which lifted them above Palace and eight points clear of the drop zone.
Palace should also be fine in truth, although manager Sam Allardyce knows the job is not done until they are mathematically safe and will not want to be in the equation for much longer.
Palace actually started strongly with Luka Milivojevic heading over from one of three corners in quick succession, before Christian Benteke’ ss hot was beaten away by Heaton.
Yet from virtually their first foray into Palace’s half, Burnley took the lead. The ball was swept out to Stephen Ward on the left and his low cross found Barnes, who miskicked with his first attempt, but had time to stab his second through Wayne Hennessey’s legs and into the net.
Burnley’s players celebrated in front of the Holmesdale End, from where something was thrown which hit defender James Tarkowski on the head.
Barnes had the ball in the net again after a quarter of an hour, but referee Bobby Madley took a long, hard look before deciding the striker had handled as he controlled Michael Keane’s header. Burnley
had further chances to add to their lead, but Sam Vokesg lance done header over the crossbar and saw another superbly saved by Hennessey.
Palace’s best chance of the first half fell to Milivojevic, who lashed a loose ball inches wide.
But they almost hauled themselves level after the break when centre- half Damien Delaney hit a stunning volley only to see Heaton claw it over.
Palace were baying for a penalty when Jon Flanagan upended Wilfried Zaha in the area, but Madley said no.
And Gray, on the field for just six minutes, ensured Burnley would leave the capital with three points when he raced onto George Boyd’s pass and drilled home the second five minutes from the end.