A solitary Daniel Muñoz goal separated the sides at Turf Moor as Crystal Palace escaped with a 1-0 victory over relegation-threatened Burnley, deepening the hosts' crisis with a fifth consecutive Premier League defeat.
The decisive moment arrived in first-half stoppage time when Muñoz met Marc Guehi’s pinpoint cross with a glancing header that nestled just inside the far post. The wing-back’s aerial finish—his second in successive away fixtures—capitalized on Burnley’s persistent failure to convert territorial dominance into meaningful chances during a disjointed opening 45 minutes.
Burnley’s woes intensified after halftime as Scott Parker injected fresh impetus through substitutions, introducing Jacob Bruun Larsen, Hannibal Mejbri, and Marcus Edwards. The tactical shift bore immediate fruit: Bruun Larsen’s cross found Lyle Foster, whose half-volley was blocked before Josh Cullen’s follow-up was thwarted. Minutes later, Bruun Larsen unleashed a ferocious strike from close range that cannoned off the crossbar, with replays confirming Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson had gotten a crucial fingertip touch to divert the effort onto the woodwork.
Palace weathered relentless pressure as Burnley’s desperation grew, surviving a late scare when Henderson misjudged a cross only for Chris Richards to clear Arm ando Broja’s accidental redirection off the line. The Clarets’ xG surged from a paltry 0.07 in the first half to 0.23 after substitutions, yet their profligacy in attack left them rooted to 19th place with just one goal in five matches.
"We should’ve definitely got something out of the game," admitted Burnley boss Scott Parker. "The team showed courage and took the game to them in the second half. We dominated large parts but fell on the wrong side of a fine margin."
Palace manager Oliver Glasner acknowledged his side’s vulnerability during a grueling schedule, stating: "It’s a huge win, but we had to survive the last 25 minutes. Natural fatigue nearly cost us—Richards’ clearance and the crossbar were our friends."
Player ratings highlighted Muñoz’s match-winning impact (7/10) alongside defensive stalwarts Guehi and Richards, while Burnley’s Bruun Larsen (7) and Mejbri (7) earned praise for their transformative second-half contributions. With survival hopes dwindling, Parker’s young squad faces mounting pressure to reverse their alarming slide before the Christmas fixtures intensify the relegation battle.
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