Frank de Boer’s misery deepens after Palace’s fourth straight defeat

Chris Wood’s early goal earns Burnley victory at Turf Moor.

Frank de Boer’s short reign at Crystal Palace was plunged into further turmoil after an early blunder from Lee Chung-yong paved the way for his side’s fourth straight Premier League defeat.

Burnley new boy Chris Wood pounced on a dreadful back-pass by the South Korean to put his side in front with less than three minutes on the clock and the hosts held out to leave De Boer’s reign hanging by a thread after a 1-0 loss.

Palace perhaps deserved something from a hugely-improved performance – and almost got it when Scott Dann somehow contrived to head wide from point-blank range in injury time – but it may not be enough to save the Dutchman his job.

What they said

Tweet of the match

Star man – Andros Townsend

Crystal Palace's Andros Townsend after the final whistle during the Premier League match at Turf Moor, Burnley. — Andros Townsend could not prevent Palace from falling to a defeat (Martin Rickett/PA)

Townsend might have finished on the losing side but he did just about everything in the quest for his side’s elusive first points of the season. He served up fine chances for Benteke and substitute Lumeka, as well as testing substitute keeper Nick Pope with a low shot at the end of the first half.

Moment of the match

Just when De Boer thought it could not get any worse, he watched Lee play a suicidal back-pass with less than three minutes on the clock, allowing home debutant Chris Wood to fire home and set the tone for the entire afternoon.

View from the bench

Crystal Palace manager Frank de Boer after the final whistle during the Premier League match at Turf Moor, Burnley. — Frank de Boer watched on as his side fell to another defeat (Martin Rickett/PA)

It was hard not to feel sympathy for De Boer as he watched Lee’s awful early blunder pave the way for another defeat. In normal circumstances, De Boer could take plenty of positives from a display which surely deserved a point. But these are not normal circumstances, and it may not be enough to save his job. Sean Dyche, meanwhile, will have been delighted with his way his side held out in the face of frequent Palace pressure to claim their first home points of the season. After a more than solid start away from home, in stark contrast to Palace, the Clarets look set for another positive campaign.

Ratings

Who’s up next?

Liverpool v Burnley (Premier League, September 16)

Crystal Palace v Southampton (Premier League, September 16)