Crystal Palace kept the momentum going in style, securing a 2-0 victory over Brentford at Selhurst Park to claim back-to-back wins and clean sheets.
Jean-Philippe Mateta opened the scoring with a brilliant header in the first half, and the second goal came courtesy of a Nathan Collins own goal from Jefferson Lerma’s threatening long throw.
The result lifts Palace to seventh in the Premier League, capping a week they’ll want to remember.
Mateta Shines Again
It’s been a season of highs and lows for Jean-Philippe Mateta, but nights like this prove just how important he is to the team.
The French striker, who made his debut for France last month, now sits joint-second in the Premier League scoring charts with six goals in 10 matches.
Despite some criticism in recent weeks for missed chances, Mateta continues to improve his all-around game.
His header against Brentford marked his 33rd goal in 60 top-flight games under Oliver Glasner — a sharp contrast to his 11 goals in 80 matches before Glasner’s arrival.
“I feel fantastic,” Mateta said after the game. “We needed that win and I’m very happy.”
Palace Win the ‘Long Throw Battle’
This clash had been nicknamed the “battle of the long throws” by some fans, and Palace came out on top.
Jefferson Lerma’s long throws caused constant problems for Brentford, ultimately resulting in the second goal when Collins inadvertently nodded the ball past his own keeper early in the second half.
Manager Oliver Glasner highlighted the preparation that went into exploiting this strength.
“We didn’t have a lot of time to train this week,” he said, referring to the tight schedule after the Liverpool game.
“We spent part of our limited training focusing on defending and attacking throw-ins. In the end, I think we won that battle, and it’s a very important win.”
Brentford Struggle to Spark
Despite their strong start to the season, Brentford struggled to make an impact at Selhurst Park.
The visitors, who had won three consecutive matches prior to this game and matched Palace on points, managed very few attempts on target.
The Eagles’ well-drilled defensive setup nullified them completely, and Brentford left empty-handed.
“Performance level was below par,” said Brentford manager Keith Andrews.
“They’re a very difficult team to break down, and it’s a tricky place to come to. I don’t feel like there was a lot in the game for us.”
Match Facts and Key Players
Palace were solid across the pitch, with standout performances from Mateta, Jefferson Lerma, and the defence.
Brentford, meanwhile, were outplayed and failed to capitalize on their early-season form.
This clean sheet was Palace’s eighth of the season across all competitions, underlining their defensive solidity.