Turf Moor witnessed another disappointing performance from Burnley as they succumbed to a 1-0 defeat against Crystal Palace. Daniel Muñoz's first-half header proved to be the difference, securing a valuable away win for the Eagles and deepening Burnley's woes.
The Colombian right-back scored his fourth goal of the season just before halftime, converting Marc Guéhi's cross with a well-timed header. Despite Burnley's efforts to respond, they lacked the cutting edge to break down Palace's defense. The win propels Crystal Palace into the mix for European places, while Burnley remain in the relegation zone after their fifth straight Premier League loss.
Burnley started the match with a majority of the possession, but they struggled to penetrate the Palace defense. Crystal Palace were content to sit back and exploit opportunities on the counter-attack. In the 14th minute, Jean-Philippe Mateta tested Burnley goalkeeper Martin Dubravka with a low shot that was pushed around the post. Burnley responded immediately, with Dean Henderson, Crystal Palace goalkeeper, pushing Jaidon Anthony's curling shot over the crossbar.
Despite Palace looking dangerous on the break, Yeremy Pino squandered an opportunity in the 21st minute, failing to capitalize on Mateta's pass. Burnley's appeals for a penalty were waved away by referee Tom Kirk when Chris Richards challenged Anthony in the box. The decisive moment arrived just before halftime when Guéhi's cross found Muñoz, who headed home to give Palace the lead.
In the second half, Palace started strongly, with Mateta's close-range effort being blocked by Dúbravka. Burnley attempted to increase the pressure, making substitutions to change the game's momentum. Henderson produced a superb save to deny Jacob Bruun Larsen, tipping his powerful shot onto the bar. Late in the game, Chris Richards cleared an effort off the line to preserve Palace's lead and secure the victory.
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner will be pleased with his team's performance, especially the defensive resilience they displayed. Palace are showing promise, and with potential investment in January, they could push for a European spot. For Burnley manager Scott Parker, the defeat adds to the growing pressure. Burnley's lack of creativity and struggles in front of goal continue to hamper their chances of survival. They need to start taking points off teams like Palace if they want to stay in the Premier League.
