Crystal Palace Under-21s were beaten 5-2 by Southampton in Premier League Two on Monday evening, with a difficult second half ending the Young Eagles’ hopes of building on their recent victory over Leeds United.
Southampton established control through Princewill Ehibhatiomhan, who scored twice before the interval. Palace responded just before half-time when Joe Gibbard met a cross from Charlie Walker-Smith and powered a header into the net, leaving Darren Powell’s side within two goals at the break.
The visitors quickly restored their advantage after the restart. Aston Daley followed up after Harry Lee had saved from Romeo Akachukwu, before Sulfiana Dibaga finished a run through on goal to make it 4-1. Ehibhatiomhan then completed his hat-trick, putting Southampton firmly in charge.
Palace did manage a second reply through David Angibeaud, who opened his Under-21 account with a powerful left-footed finish into the roof of the net after Williams created the opportunity. The Young Eagles continued to press, with Adler Nascimento forcing a save from a free-kick and Tyler Whyte sending a dangerous ball across the face of goal, but they could not reduce the deficit further.
Powell made four changes from the side that defeated Leeds 4-1 in the previous match. Walker-Smith returned from a lengthy injury absence, while Caleb Kporha, Kai-Reece Adams-Colman and Angibeaud also came into the starting XI, with Adams-Colman and Angibeaud making their first Under-21 starts. Palace’s previous win had featured a hat-trick from Nascimento and a late goal from 15-year-old Nat Kalembo.
The result leaves Palace 17th in Premier League Two with seven points after three successive defeats. Their next assignment is a must-win EFL Trophy group-stage finale against Newport County on 3 November, when the Young Eagles will look to return to winning ways.
