C Palace 5-3 Bournemouth: Palace win high-scoring Selhurst Park clash

Crystal Palace hit five goals past Bournemouth in a dramatic 5-3 victory in their final Premier League game of the season.

Palace and Bournemouth entertained the fans in an enthralling encounter which was kick-started by Michy Batshuayi, who scored two in quick succession (24 & 32).

Jack Simpson scored an unfortunate own goal five minutes later before Jefferson Lerma smashed in a screamer on the stroke of half-time (45).

Patrick van Aanholt slotted home Palace's fourth in the 65th minute, before Bournemouth grabbed another two thanks to strikes from Jordon Ibe (56) and Josh King (73).

But Andros Townsend ensured Palace would finish the season victorious with a neat finish 10 minutes from time.

How Selhurst goalfest unfolded

A frantic opening to the game eventually resulted in the opener in the 24th minute as Wilfried Zaha's cross from the right took a wicked deflection off Adam Smith and was smartly volleyed in by Batshuayi.

The Belgium international added his second eight minutes later when he slid in to redirect Aaron Wan-Bissaka's mishit shot into the net. And with Palace in full control, they added another a few minutes later with Zaha's shot poorly parried by Travers, which clattered off the unfortunate Simpson.

Bournemouth pulled a goal back on the stroke of half-time through Lerma's phenomenal strike from range which arrowed into the top corner off the woodwork.

Travers was forced to make two smart stops five minutes into the second-half to deny Townsend and James McArthur. And moments later, Ibe pulled back another Bournemouth goal with a low shot into the bottom corner for his first Premier League goal of the season.

And with Bournemouth looking like they may produce a remarkable comeback, Palace got their fourth through Van Aanholt, who played a neat one-two with Zaha before driving his strike through the legs of Travers.

Bournemouth replied again eight minutes later through Josh King, who poked in Chris Mepham's header unmarked at the back post from a corner. But Palace would make it five ten minutes from time through Townsend, who steered his shot into the bottom corner after a mazy run by Zaha.

Opta stats

• Crystal Palace have scored five goals in a Premier League game for just the third time ever and the first time since winning 5-0 v Leicester in April 2018.
• Bournemouth's Premier League matches this season have seen a total of 126 goals (56 scored, 70 conceded), the most of any side in the competition this season.
• Roy Hodgson enjoyed his 100th Premier League win, becoming the oldest manager to reach that milestone at 71 years and 276 days.
• Crystal Palace striker Michy Batshuayi has ended on the winning side in all nine Premier League games he has scored, with only Chris Smalling netting in more games with a 100% win record (Daniel Agger also on 9).
• Crystal Palace's Michy Batshuayi has scored a brace in each of his two Premier League appearances on the final day of the season, scoring two for Chelsea in May 2017 and a brace today.
• Andros Townsend has hit double figures for goal involvements in a Premier League season for the first time ever (6 goals, 4 assists).

The managers

Roy Hodgson: "It was an incredible attacking performance from both teams I thought. It was a nice way for us to end the season. It was a very entertaining game and its not surprising that eight goals were scored because so many chances were created.

It was unlike us but we were down to the bare bones when it came to selecting defenders. We put the attacking players on to try and score more than them and luckily it went our way."

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Eddie Howe: "It was not the way we wanted to finish but for the neutral it must've been a great spectacle for the neutral. It was so open, the scoreline could have been higher. We will go away and analyse that one.

"We will but we were poor in the first half at times, very good in the second half, dominated in the game, but we were disappointed to lose."

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Man of the Match - Michy Batshuayi

Batshuayi capped off the end of his loan spell in style with two goals as he spearheaded the Palace attack in fine fashion.

His first goal was very well struck and combined well with Zaha and Townsend on the flanks throughout, with the Bournemouth backline unable to cope with his strength and power.

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