SOUTHAMPTON 2 c. PALACE 3

MAROUANE CHAMAKH inspired Crystal Palace’s progress to the FA Cup fifth round as Alan Pardew oversaw victory against his former club Southampton in a pulsating, goal-laden tie.

A lot has changed since Saints travelled to Selhurst Park on Boxing Day, with that 3-1 defeat leading to Neil Warnock’s sacking and the appointment of the popular former Eagles midfielder.

Even the most optimistic of Palace fans, though, could not have predicted Pardew’s impact, with this win continuing his 100% start to life at the helm, ending Southampton’s eight-match unbeaten run.

Like Burnley last weekend, an impressive comeback was required to secure victory from a match which was just nine minutes old when Graziano Pelle ended a sevenmatch goal drought with a stabbed effort to put Saints ahead – a lead quickly wiped out as Chamakh bundled home on his return from a six-week injury lay-off.

The first half was like two boxers with weak chins swinging wildly at one another – epitomised by Yaya Sanogo going close, before Saints broke and Scott Dann turned a Ryan Bertrand cross into his own goal.

However, that lead was once again short-lived as Sanogo netted his first Palace goal, before the 3,225 travelling fans saw their side go ahead as Chamakh rounded Fraser Forster to slot home.

It meant Saints had conceded more in 39 minutes than in their five previous games in 2015 combined and, while they upped the ante in the second half, they were unable to find the equaliser.