Crystal Palace 1-0 Norwich: Puncheon stunner ends Eagles winless run

Crystal Palace ended their long wait for a first Premier League win of 2016 as Jason Puncheon's fine goal proved enough to earn a vital 1-0 win over Norwich.

It was a tense afternoon at Selhurst Park but the home fans were raucous throughout and jubilant at the finish, as Puncheon's curling effort (68) took the Eagles 10 points clear of the drop zone.

Norwich were searching for a third win in a row but endured a tough afternoon, having defender Timm Klose stretchered off and failing to be awarded what they considered a certain first-half penalty.

After a great start to the season, Cup semi-finalists Palace have been plummeting down the table of late and they were grateful to defender Scott Dann and referee Michael Oliver in the first-half here.

Dann took a fierce Matt Jarvis shot flush in the face and was later on hand to block a Steven Naismith shot which also looked like it might have been goal-bound.

As for Oliver, to the fury of the Norwich players, he decided not to point to the spot after Damien Delaney had somewhat clumsily barged into Jarvis in the box.

Clear-cut chances were generally quite thin on the ground during a keenly-contested first period, Puncheon squandering Palace's best, scuffing his shot when Pape Souare's cross fell kindly, allowing Martin Olsson to block the ball away to safety.

The Norwich defence did a good job of keeping Dwight Gayle fairly quiet but Klose unfortunately sustained an injury just before the break and had to be replaced by Sebastien Bassong.

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The game remained very tight after the interval, Naismith and Yannick Bolasie blazing half-chances over the crossbar at either end.

But Puncheon then conjured up a bit of 68th-minute magic, receiving a short pass from Joel Ward, taking a touch as he drifted inside, and then hitting a delightful left-footed curler from the edge of the area which nestled in the bottom corner.

The game really opened up after the goal and chances suddenly came thick and fast, Norwich almost fashioning an immediate equaliser, only for Wayne Hennessey to dive to his right and brilliantly keep out a Ryan Bennett volley.

Desperate for the three points, the Palace defence were happy to put their bodies on the line, and Souare produced a stunning block moments later to deny Robbie Brady.

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And the hosts could have made the last few minutes easier on their fans but squandered a couple of chances to add a second goal.

Sub Wilfried Zaha was released by Yohan Cabaye and drew a good save from John Ruddy, before Bolasie and Jedinak somehow failed to poke the ball over the line after a corner prompted a goal-mouth scramble.

Brady then charged towards goal at the other end but the alert Hennessey rushed off his line and did really well to block the shot.

Time began to run out for the visitors and Ruddy came forward for a pair of late set-pieces but the Palace defence held firm, with Dann and Delaney excellent in the second half.

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And the final whistle was greeted with a roar of relief from the home fans, who will now be very confident they will be watching Premier League football again next season.

The Canaries remain outside the bottom three but ma face a nervous few weeks and now turn their attentions to a massive game against Sunderland at Carrow Road next Saturday.

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Paul Merson's Soccer Saturday verdict

"It was a top goal to win any football match; Puncheon comes in off the right, took it on to his left and he bent it in the far corner.

"It was a good finish but, bar that, nothing in it."

Player ratings

Crystal Palace: Hennessey (7), Ward (6), Dann (7), Delaney (6), Souare (7), Cabaye (6), Bolasie (7), Jedinak (6), Sako (6), Puncheon (8), Gayle (6)

Subs: Zaha (6), Ledley (6), Wickham (6)

Norwich: Ruddy (6), Wisdom (6), Klose (7), Olsson (7), Bennett (6), Howson (6), Brady (7), Jarvis (6), O'Neil (6), Naismith (6), Mbokani (6)

Subs: Bassong (6), Redmond (6), Bamford (6)

Star man: Jason Puncheon