Report & reaction: Mateta scores 94th-minute winner

As Hodgson strode back out towards the home dugout at Selhurst Park in the south London sunshine, the noise emanating from the Holmesdale spoke to the determination of both players and fans to turn Palace’s form around.

The home side started on the front foot and refused to let up, winning the ball high up inside the Leicester half on multiple occasions and calling Daniel Iversen into action time and again.

Cheick Doucouré saw his low effort saved, Wilfried Zaha’s was pushed away and Ebere Eze – after dancing past several defenders – was denied a Goal of the Season contender. Joachim Andersen and Marc Guéhi were imperious, and the Eagles went in at half-time having had 19 shots on goal, comfortably their highest tally since the turn of the year.

Leicester’s only foray forwards saw a mishit cross strike the post, before Guéhi could nod clear.

Disaster struck just before the break, however, as Zaha pulled up in possession clutching his groin and was withdrawn, making a forlorn figure as he limped down the tunnel.

Leicester emerged a far more confident side and enjoyed their best spell in possession after the break, earning the breakthrough through substitute Ricardo Pereira’s sweetly struck effort from the edge of the penalty area.

They weren’t ahead for long, however, as Palace equalised just minutes later. It will go down as an own goal but that doesn’t tell the full story, with Ebere Eze’s wonderful free-kick cannoning off the underside of the crossbar, clipping the back of Iversen and nestling in the back of the net.

Both sides kept pushing and probing as the minutes ticked by, but it was Palace in the ascendency for the final period – and Iversen was called into action once again to prevent a looping free-kick finding the back of the net.

Then, deep into the fourth minute of stoppage time, up stepped Jean-Philippe Mateta to slot home and send Selhurst Park into delirium. Ray Lewington danced on the touchline, the corner flag took a beating and Palace have secured three invaluable points.

As the final whistle blew, Roy Hodgson raised his fist into the air. The Eagles had won it.

Palace: Guaita (GK), Ward, Guéhi, Andersen, Mitchell, Doucouré, Schlupp, Eze, Olise, Zaha (Ayew, 45), Edouard.

Subs: Johnstone (GK), Milivojevic, Lokonga, Mateta, Clyne, McArthur, Hughes, Riedewald.

Leicester: Iversen (GK), Castagne, Souttar, Faes, Kristiansen (Thomas, 60), Ndidi, Dewsbury-Hall, Cardoso (Pereira, HT), Maddison, Barnes, Daka (Iheanacho, 72).

Subs: Ward (GK), Söyüncü, Vardy, Amartey, Mendy, Soumaré.

Refresh this page periodically for all the latest reaction from Selhurst Park.

Hodgson: Our energy was fantastic

17:45

Roy Hodgson has praised his sides ability to dominate games as he made a winning return to the dugout at Selhurst Park, after Jean-Philippe Mateta’s 95th minute winner secured an invaluable three points.

“It’s a wonderful feeling,” he said after full-time. “It’s such a relief, really, because I thought over the course of the 90 minutes we deserved to win the game – especially with the first-half performance which I enjoyed and was so good.

“As the game wears on, we conceded a very good goal to them and you can see the game petering out at 1-1. I honestly believe today, with everything we did on the field and the stats back it up, we deserved to win it.

“But I know it’s very hard on Brendan [Rodgers] and his team to concede a goal in extra time especially with virtually the last kick of the game.”

Hodgson had called for a response from his side to their poor form in 2023, and was delighted by the start the players made.

“I thought the attacking intent from team – and I’m even talking about the full-backs and the centre-backs – was very good,” he said. “It is quite incredible to havee that amount of shots, that amount of shots on target and that amount of corners.

“It really did show how intent we were to play the game in their half and when we got to final third to profit and capitalise on that when we got ball into final third.

“The energy was fantastic. We knew the crowd would be nervous of course, like we were ourselves, but we also knew they would be 100 percent behind us and 100 percent wanting us to play in that way.

“It was a win-win situation today because we gave the fans what they wanted to see and it proved that we have the ability to pin teams back and create goal chances.

“I think today we could have scored more than the one goal we had until the last minute of the game.”

The goalscorers

17:15

Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta cut delighted figures after scoring the goals to power Crystal Palace to a dramatic 2-1 win over Leicester City.

A long winless run in the Premier League looked set to continue when the visitors took the lead through Ricardo Pereira in the second-half.

But Leicester led for only a matter of moments as Eze stepped up to curl a 25-yard free-kick over the wall and in via the crossbar – later credited as an own-goal after the ball bounced in off goalkeeper Daniel Iversen.

And with the seconds ticking down, in the fourth minute of injury time, Mateta produced a delightful turn and finish to give Palace their first victory of the New Year, in manager Roy Hodgson’s first match back in charge.

“Finally!” Mateta laughed at full-time. “Finally.

“I worked so hard for this goal and finally it’s happened today. We needed this win – for the team, for the new manager… he’s not really new, but…!

“The first touch, I think it was my first touch, I saw my first touch was good, and I knew I’m a finisher and I score.

“Everyone’s just happy. We needed this win. Hopefully a lot more will come as well.”

Speaking alongside Mateta, Eze added: “As we were saying before the game, we needed to win today.

“It was a big performance from everyone and I think that’s going to give us the confidence going forward.

“We’ve got the character. We know what we’re capable of. As long as we keep doing our stuff, we know we’re going to score goals.

“Honestly, I don’t care [that it wasn’t credited as my goal]! I just wanted a win today and I’m grateful to God we got it.

“We haven’t spoken to Roy yet, but we know that he’s happy!”

Full-time

90+6 mins

Roy Hodgson punches the air.

GOAL!

Palace 2-1 Leiceser (Mateta)

90+5 mins

MATETAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA ASDKJASKDLJHASDJFKHSADF

Carnage at Selhurst!

Ray Lewington is dancing on the touchline, the corner flag has taken a beating and Palace have three valuable points.

It’s a wonderful turn and finish too, but the analysis can come later – WHAT A MOMENT.

90+4 mins

Oh my goodness me, how on earth have Palace not won it at the death?

Ayew finds Mateta in the area six yards out but he is narrowly beaten to the header by a despearate challenge. It falls for Mitchell who volleys over.

90+2 mins

Free-kick for Palace, 35 yards out. Olise stands over it. Everyone is forward.

It’s a good delivery too, but Guéhi at the far post is just behind it and cannot make contact.

90 mins

We will have FOUR minutes of additional time. COME ON, PALACE!

Substitution

86 mins

On comes Jean-Philippe Mateta for the final few moments, in place of Odsonne Edouard.

84 mins

Eze is brought down by Dewsbury-Hall, who earns a booking. Another free-kick for Palace inside the Leicester half, and both centre-backs are forward…

…and it almost falls for Guéhi on the stretch, but he can’t make contact and Iversen paws it behind!

82 mins

Into the final stages now. Can Palace find the winner?

Substitution

81 mins

Eze is booked, and Hodgson makes his first move of this second-half. Off comes Jeff Schlupp, and on comes Will Hughes in his place.

Chance

76 mins

Eze at it again! A low strike from outside the area forced Iversen into a smart save.

Substitution

72 mins

Kelechi Iheanacho replaces Patson Daka.

Yellow card

69 mins

Harry Souttar takes a booking for the team as he brings down Odsonne Edouard, who was breaking forwards.

63 mins

Palace are buoyed now, and come forwards again.

There is a serious noise coming from Selhurst Park.

GOAL!

Palace 1-1 Leicester (Iversen OG)

58 mins

Palace are level straight away, and what a strike it is – well, sort of!

Eze strikes a free-kick from 25-yards out and it crashes off the underside of the bar, into a despairing Iversen and into the back of the net.

What a start to the second-half.

GOAL

Palace 0-1 Leicester (Pereira)

55 mins

Leicester have been vastly improved since the break and they have their reward, and now Palace must come from behind.

It’s the substitute Ricardo Pereira and it’s a fine finish, picking out the top corner from the edge of the penalty area as the visitors broke forwards.

49 mins

Decent start for Leicester who come forward and win a corner, but cannot make anything of it.

Guaita is called into action for the first time this afternoon, as Maddison tries his luck from the angle.

Kick-off

46 mins

The teams are back out, and Leicester have made a change. Off comes Cardoso and on comes Ricardo Pereira.

Half-time

45+2 mins

SOMEHOW, Palace aren’t ahead.

Seven corners, 19 shots., 58% possession – the only negative is that late injury to Wilfried Zaha.

Still plenty of time left to find the breakthrough – what an important team talk for Roy Hodgson.

Substitution

45 mins

Off comes Zaha, and he heads straight down the tunnel. Jordan Ayew replaces him.

We are into two minutes of added time.

44 mins

Oh dear, this is not good at all.

As Zaha bears down on goal and prepares to take on another defender, he pulls up and falls to the ground in considerable pain, holding his groin.

No Leicester defender was near him, and he is down receiving treatment…

38 mins

Zaha tries the spectacular…

Andersen’s cross towards the far post is met with a flying scissor-kick from the Ivorian, but it’s blocked before it can test Iversen in goal.

35 mins

Just the 16 shots for Palace in the opening 35 minutes, if you’re counting.

32 mins

What a let-off for Wilfred Ndidi, who gives the ball straight to Jeff Schlupp on the edge of the area. Schlupp finds Olise, whose effort is blocked behind. From the corner, Edouard is denied by Iversen.

Yellow card

29 mins

Into the book goes Kristiansen for a cynical check on Michael Olise – the young winger was away.

27 mins

Palace have another corner – and the ball strikes a Leicester hand again, but this time there is no VAR check.

Olise’s delivery is a peach and is met by Andersen, who sends it narrowly wide.

22 mins

Palace are in again and Zaha has another shot blocked – by a hand?

A hush descends on Selhurst Park as the VAR checks for a possible penalty, but nothing doing. It would have been extremely harsh, a combination of arm and thigh.

Chance

19 mins

Another opening for Palace as Schlupp feeds Zaha while being fouled – the referee plays a good advantage – and Zaha cuts inside, stinging the palms of Iversen.

Leicester are living dangerously.

15 mins

A wonderfully touching moment as we hit the 15 minute mark, Selhurst Park rises to its feet for a moment’s applause in memory of 15-year-old fan Charlie Ellacott, who tragically passed away after a lengthy battle with illness.

The thoughts of everyone at Crystal Palace are with his family at this difficult time.

Chance

14 mins

What a goal that would have been!

Ebere Eze picks up the ball and dances around defenders into the penalty area, where his low shot across goal is pushed away by Iversen. There isn’t a Palace player there to slot home the rebound, and it remains goalless.

11 mins

Almost a suckerpunch as Leicester come forwards for the first time.

A looping cross dug out from the angle deceives Guaita and strikes the inside of the post, with Guéhi reacting fastest to nod it away.

Palace complete the clearance, but it’s a nervy moment.

9 mins

This is some start.

First Olise is inches from slipping it through to Edouard, before Zaha and Doucouré see shots blocked in quick succession.

What really gets the crowd going, though, is Palace’s work off the ball – Leicester are penned in and the Eagles win it back in the opposition half to launch the next wave of the attack.

From a corner, it falls to Doucouré on the edge of the box but he strikes down the middle and Iversen can save.

6 mins

Leicester, sporting a rather garish green and white combination, are struggling to get any foothold in possession.

Palace are looking confident in possession, and Zaha is causing all kinds of problems for Harry Souttar at the back.

It seems Palace have set up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Ebere Eze and Jeff Schlupp operating centrally ahead of Cheick Doucouré.

Chance

2 mins

What a start that would have been!

Inside 60 seconds Palace create an opening, as Edouard pulls it back for Zaha by the penalty spot. His shot is blocked, but it’s an encouraging early sign for the Eagles.

Kick-off

1 min

Here we go – COME ON, PALACE!

14:57

Here come the sides, and with them the managers – Roy Hodgson gets some ovation as he returns to Selhurst Park. The boyhood Palace fan is back on the touchline again.

14:55

The teams are in the tunnel, and we are about to see football return to Selhurst Park for the first time since mid-March.

14:50

The warm-ups are finished, the players are back in the dressing rooms for final instructions and the fans are beginning to make some noise.

HUGE 90 minutes coming up.

14:40

Good afternoon, boss.

Roy Hodgson is back in the dugout at Selhurst Park.

Message from the Chairman

14:30

Chairman Steve Parish has penned his programme column ahead of Crystal Palace's game with Leicester City. The Chairman's words are published in full below.

I’d like to begin by welcoming Roy Hodgson and Ray Lewington back to the club and thanking them for accepting the challenge of not only staying in the division but finishing as high as we possibly can. With Roy’s ability, experience, knowledge of the club and enthusiasm for the weeks ahead – along with Paddy in a new role as assistant manager and Ray as first-team coach – we believe we have the right group to lead us out of the most competitive relegation battle we’ve seen in 10 years in this division. As expected, Roy has hit the ground running and the mood at the training ground has been one of purpose, positivity, energy and togetherness.

As never before we will need your support to rally behind the team and Roy during each of our remaining matchdays. We need to make Selhurst Park a fortress for these five home matches – to make it uncomfortable for the opposition by creating as much noise as possible to spur our players on. Roy rightly said that our club is known for its fighting spirit, and that is off the field as well as on it.

I cannot emphasise just how much a difference your support, noise and encouragement can make. There will be difficult moments I’m sure, but you have carried us through on countless occasions, and we will need you to do it again. All the clubs at the bottom can claim to have squads ‘too good’ to go down, and many like us have been in the division a long time. The clubs that believe in themselves, their players, and demonstrate the desire to stay in the league will be the ones that triumph. That belief system starts with me and each and every one of you, and I know you will be behind us every step of the way.

A special mention to the four senior players – Jordan, Michael, Cheick, and Marc – and 10 Academy players who were on international duty over the last week. It is always a wonderful sight to see our players represent their country, which is testament to their club performances.

It was also brilliant to see our Women’s team get a win over Blackburn at Bromley last weekend, in front of more than 1,000 supporters on Women’s Football Weekend. Congratulations to the players and staff. It’s an exciting time and there is a lot going on in the women’s game, and we are proud to be working with the FA on how the game develops.

The Academy goes from strength to strength. The Under-21s lie in equal third place and hopefully progress in the Premier League International Cup against Liverpool, while the Under-18s are second after some impressive recent wins. Our Under-15 boys have once again qualified for the Floodlit Cup Final, and will face Arsenal in April. We have a strong record in that competition, and I wish coach Joe Antonelli and the group the very best of luck. Commiserations to the Under-13s who got through to the final of their cup competition, only to lose narrowly to Arsenal.

Up the Palace.

To read the full digital programme for Saturday's game, click here now.

14:15

You’ve seen the team news – now get ready for kick-off with our in-depth match preview HERE.

Team news

14:00

The team news is in, and Roy Hodgson has made three changes to his side to take on Leicester as he returns to the dugout at Selhurst Park, with Ebere Eze earning a place from the start.

Eze replaces Luka Milivojevic in midfield, with Jeff Schlupp and Cheick Doucouré in the centre; Michael Olise retains his place on the opposite flank.

In defence, Joachim Andersen replaces James Tomkins, with Marc Guéhi, Joel Ward and Tyrick Mitchell completing the back-four. Vicente Guaita returns in goal, with Sam Johnstone also fit enough for a place on the bench.

Wilfried Zaha captains the side in attack alongside Odsonne Edouard.

There are plenty of attacking reinforcements on the bench, with Jordan Ayew and Jean-Philippe Mateta among the replacements. Sambi Lokonga, Will Hughes, James McArthur and Luka Milivojevic are also options in midfield.

Palace: Guaita (GK), Ward, Guéhi, Andersen, Mitchell, Doucouré, Schlupp, Eze, Olise, Zaha, Edouard.

Subs: Johnstone (GK), Milivojevic, Lokonga, Ayew, Mateta, Clyne, McArthur, Hughes, Riedewald.

Leicester: Iversen (GK), Castagne, Souttar, Faes, Kristiansen, Ndidi, Dewsbury-Hall, Martins, Maddison, Barnes, Daka.

Subs: Ward (GK), Söyüncü, Vardy, Iheanacho, Amartey, Pereira, Mendy, Thomas, Soumaré.

13:50

The team news is just 10 minutes away - who do you want to see start this afternoon?

From the manager

13:40

Roy Hodgson has confirmed that Crystal Palace will be without defenders Chris Richards and Nathan Ferguson, but that goalkeepers Vicente Guaita and Sam Johnstone will return, for the visit of Leicester City on Saturday.

The manager started his first press conference since returning to the club by issuing a wide-ranging fitness update.

Hodgson said: “We’ve got two players who are unfortunately not going to be available.

“It’s unfortunate because both were training last week, but we’ve lost Nathan Ferguson and Chris Richards for this game. Hopefully the injuries are not serious ones, so the prognosis is we might get them back for next week.

“Both goalkeepers are back fit.”

Hodgson then discussed his return to the club he had previously managed to four consecutive Premier League survivals, including equalling Palace’s best-ever total from a single season in the competition (49 points in 2018/19).

The manager said: “The time I spent here was [four] very good years. I forged a very good relationship not only with the owners and the Sporting Director, but with a lot of people around the place, not least the players. In terms of coming back in that respect, it wasn’t a difficult decision to make.

“I wouldn’t big up too much the fact that, as everyone knows, it was my boyhood club, but it does mean that things fit in quite seamlessly now I’m back, because people know me and how I like to work, and I know so many of them.

“Knowing [Chairman] Steve [Parish] and the owners as well as I do, I’m sure they’ve got ideas and plans going forward. They’ve asked myself and Ray [Lewington] to do a very specific job: work with this group of players and try to make certain that, at the end of the season, we are still a Premier League team. I like it that way.”

Read the thoughts of the manager in full by clicking HERE.

13:30

Make sure you pick up a programme today, as Jeff Schlupp eveals how his experiences winning the title with Leicester City and working at Palace under Roy Hodgson can help the Eagles turn their form around.

“It’s been positive,” Schlupp describes the mood at Palace’s Copers Cope training ground over the international break. “For many of us, the new manager is a familiar face. A lot of us know how he likes to work.

“We saw the international break as a chance to refresh and really have a crack at the last bit of this season – the last 10 games to come. We’ve had a managerial change, and we want to come back from the international period with a clear mind, ready to go.

“Roy is obviously a familiar face, with familiar tactics to a lot of us. He’s getting his message across early because it’s not like we’ve got a whole season to work on stuff – we’ve got two months of the season left to try and get results, and change things around.

You can read the full feature interview with Schlupp in the Leicester matchday programme NOW.

Also inside are notes from Roy Hodgson and Steve Parish, features on Vince Hilaire and Doc Brown's take on a busy few weeks at the club...

You can get your hands on the Leicester programme from vendors in and around Selhurst Park for just £3.50. You can also order programmes online for delivery straight to your door. You’ll need to do this at least three days before the game.

Alternatively, you can read a digital version right now for £1.99 by clicking here or below.

Gold, Junior Eagles Gold and International Members, and Season Ticket+ holders, get the digital programme sent direct to them at no extra charge – you can become a Member by clicking here!

Last meeting

13:20

Palace could not find a way through a stubborn Leicester defence the last time these two sides met, as the points were shared in a goalless draw at the King Power.

The Eagles’ last victory against Leicester came in February 2019 under Roy Hodgson, as a Wilfried Zaha brace inspired a phenomenal away performance and a four-goal haul in the Midlands.

13:10

Several senior players have been busy over the international break, with Jordan Ayew, Joachim Andersen, Cheick Doucouré and Michael Olise all in action – check out a full round-up of their performances by clicking HERE.

Welcome to Selhurst Park

13:00

It’s been a while.

Not for Palace the quiet international break: a new manager in the dugout today – or rather, an old one. Roy Hodgson is making his return to Selhurst Park as the Eagles take on Leicester.

Can Palace secure a crucial three points and kick-start the run-in with a win?

Follow all the pre-match build-up, action and post-match reaction right here.