Report & Highlights: Palace cruise past Brentford

First-team

1 Nov 2025

Crystal Palace scored a goal in each half to defeat Brentford and start November with three precious Premier League points.

Summary

Four changes for Palace with Mateta, Richards, Lerma and Mitchell all starting.
17: Sarr has a good chance but opts to pass rather than shoot when well placed.
25: Mateta’s header from close range is blocked by Yarmoliuk.
31 – GOAL: Mateta’s looping header deceives Kelleher and Palace have the lead.
35: Sarr’s well-struck volley goes just wide.
HT: Palace 1-0 Brentford
51 – GOAL: Own goal from Brentford skipper Nathan Collins, following Lerma’s long throw-in, makes It 2-0 to the Eagles.
76: Henderson makes a superb save to deny Brentford substitute Nelson.
FT: Palace 2-0 Brentford

Match Action: Crystal Palace 2-0 Brentford

The Eagles were always in control throughout the afternoon, scoring just before and not long after the interval to secure a first Premier League win in four attempts.

Searching for another success after the Carabao Cup win over Liverpool, Oliver Glasner reverted back to a tried and trusted starting XI, with Jean-Philippe Mateta and Chris Richards returning as two of four changes from the win at Anfield.

Yéremy Pino was looking to find the net for the second game running and had the first Palace effort of note, his free-kick from 25 yards out well defended by the Brentford wall.

Brentford’s early pressure mainly took the form of corners and long throw-ins launched into Dean Henderson’s area, but Palace coped well.

Dango Ouattara had a brief sight of goal on the quarter hour mark, but Chris Richards, Palace’s last man, stood him up well to make a block.

Ismaïla Sarr had a golden opportunity not long after when played in down the right. But choosing to play a pass rather than smash the ball across goal proved the wrong option, as Brentford survived their first major scare.

But despite failing to create clear cut chances, Palace’s greater initiative paid off just after the half hour.

Marc Guéhi was fouled just inside the Bees half, giving Pino the chance to deliver a perfect cross-field pass.

Jefferson Lerma’s header teed up Mateta perfectly and his looping header gave Caoimhin Kelleher no chance, with the France international making it four goals in two Premier League home fixtures.

It was nearly two for Palace not long after, with Sarr hitting a well-struck volley just wide after showing some nice control on the edge of the box.

At that stage, Brentford looked very much second best. Though they could have found themselves level at the break – had Mikkel Damsgaard directed his free-kick on the edge of the box at the Palace goal.

Instead, it was high and wide, meaning the Eagles went in 1-0 up at half-time.

A lot of talk before the game had been about both sides successfully using long throw-ins this season. So, it felt almost inevitable that a goal would come from one.

Fortunately, it was Palace who got it. Lerma delivered one just six minutes after the half-time whistle and Brentford’s captain Nathan Collins got the resultant header all wrong.

It flew past Kelleher and straight into the goal, giving the Eagles a two-goal advantage with plenty of time left for more.

Sarr nearly got Palace's third goal just seconds after the restart, going through one-on-one and beating Kelleher – only to be denied at the last by the post.

Brentford still had their moments. Kristoffer Ajer should have really done better with a header at the back post, but planted his effort straight at Henderson.

The Bees made a triple substitution in an effort to try and find a way back into the contest, with Keane Lewis-Potter, Vitaly Janelt and Mathias Jensen all introduced.

But it was their fourth substitute Reiss Nelson, who actually forced Henderson into action – the Palace No.1 making an excellent diving save to keep the score at 2-0.

It was the first time he had really been tested in the second-half and the Palace stopper responded magnificently.

In truth, that was as close as Brentford would come. Henderson made some comfortable catches in the dying minutes, as Palace saw out the game in relative comfort.

The Eagles now turn attention back towards Europe. AZ Alkmaar are the visitors on Thursday in the UEFA Conference League, before a showdown with Brighton and Hove Albion next Sunday.

A very big week for Palace, got the perfect start.

Palace: Henderson (GK), Richards, Lacroix, Guéhi, Muñoz, Kamada (Hughes, 78), Lerma, Mitchell, Sarr, Pino (Devenny, 78), Mateta (Canvot, 89)

Subs: Benítez (GK), Clyne, Sosa, Cardines, Esse, Uche.

Brentford: Kelleher (GK), Kayode (Lewis-Potter, 68), Collins, Van den Berg, Ajer, Yarmoliuk (Janelt, 68), Henderson (Carvalho, 86), Ouattara (Nelson, 75), Damsgaard (Jensen, 68), Schade, Igor Thiago

Subs: Valdimarsson (GK), Henry, Pinnock, Onyeka.

AS IT HAPPENED

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