Aston Villa slipped to a second straight league defeat on Saturday afternoon, as Bakary Sako's late goal gave Crystal Palace a 2-1 win at Selhurst Park.
With the deadlock not yet broken going into the second half, it was Scott Dann's header which handed Palace the lead, only for Villa debutant Adama Traore to go on a mazy run which saw them level proceedings. In the end, a mistake from Jordan Amavi in defence gifted the ball to Palace, and Sako took full advantage.
Tim Sherwood set Villa up in the narrow diamond formation that had proved successful for them towards the back end of last season, in an attempt to add some more attacking flair by playing two strikers.
Jack Grealish returned from injury to take his part at the tip of the diamond, whilst Carlos Sanchez came in for Jordan Veretout, taking up the defensive midfield role.
For Palace, there was a debutant as Bakary Sako made his first start for the club after signing from Wolverhampton Wanderers on a free transfer.
Tentative openings
Villa had the first half chance, as Rudy Gestede, making his first start of the season, hit a shot straight against Damien Delaney, however the first big moment of the match was at the opposite end.
With Wilfried Zaha using his blistering pace to dance into the box, he was clipped by Idrissa Gueye's outstretched leg, with nothing given by referee Keith Stroud. The ball did fall to Jason Puncheon on the edge of the area, however he blazed a shot over the bar.
Grealish was looking like he'd never been away as he buzzed around midfield, and should have got an assist when Gabriel Agbonlahor failed to score from a precise through ball.
Slipped in by Grealish, Agbonlahor ran the ball into the left hand side of the area, but instead of going across the goal with his left boot, he toe-poked it with his right, and Alex McCarthy held it well.
The rest of the half was much quieter, with Zaha, Sako, and Sanchez all having long range attempts, none of which troubled either goalkeeper.
Alan Pardew deemed it appropriate to shake things up at half time, with Jordan Mutch and Dwight Gayle coming on for Glen Murray and Zaha.
It seemed to have worked straight away, as Palace 'scored' within 15 minutes of the second half starting. Gayle picking up the ball from Yohan Cabaye inside the area, twisted away from his man and shot. It looked like his attempt was going wide, before the ball struck the stomach of James McArthur and went in.
The goal was given, however upon consultation between the referee and his linesman, the decision was changed after the fourth official informed the referee that McArthur was in an offside position.
The home side continued to go on the offensive, pegging Villa back, and Sako curled a good chance wide after Ward set him up.
Two quick goals
The goal did come eventually, with Scott Dann the scorer. Rising highest in the penalty area after a corner was swung in, his header looped into the top left hand corner, handing the home side the lead.
However, the Villans fought back well and quickly, with new-boy Traore playing a huge part. Put on by Sherwood just before Palace got their noses in front, he made sure it was a quick turnaround.
Taking the ball on the right-hand side, he beat two players with raw pace before sliding the ball across the box, seeing it deflect off Pape Souare and go into the net.
Villa lose it at the death
Unfortunately for Sherwood's men, delighted as they were to equalise, they were the constructors of their own downfall, as Palace snatched the win in the dying minutes.
Having dealt with a Palace corner well, Brad Guzan made the strange decision to roll the ball out to left-back Jordan Amavi, with a huge amount of Eagles players still around the box.
Amavi had the ball pinched off him by goalscorer Dann, who showed good awareness to pop it back to Sako, who dropped his shoulder and rocketed it into the bottom left corner.
Villa pressed hard but couldn't create a meaningful opportunity in the dying minutes, and they lost out again, after the 1-0 loss to Manchester United last week.