In a typically gritty London derby at Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace finally ended a frustrating streak in the Premier League by defeating local rivals Brentford 2-0 on Saturday afternoon.
After three league games without a win, Palace looked more assured and tactical under Oliver Glasner, executing the fundamentals with clinical edge, while Brentford once again failed to fully threaten.
With the result, Palace climb to seventh place with 16 points from ten matches and Brentford slip to 12th with 13 points.
The game offered much less flair than the club’s trophy-winning highs of last season, but it achieved exactly what the Eagles needed: a clean sheet and a composed performance. This was a victory built on structure, set-piece efficiency, and seizing moments rather than dazzling creativity.
Brentford, meanwhile, failed to find rhythm or penetrating quality, offering a worrying sign about their inconsistency this season.
Palace broke the deadlock in the 30th minute when the club’s leading striker Jean-Philippe Mateta guided a well-placed header into the top corner from a long delivery. The move began with Yéremy Pino whipping in a free-kick, which was flicked on by Jefferson Lerma and met by Mateta, whose looping header left Brentford’s goalkeeper rooted to the spot.
It was a goal born out of patience and precision, the kind of combination Glasner has been trying to instil in his forwards since taking over.
Brentford responded sluggishly. A rare chance for their winger Ismaïla Sarr, who got free down the right and chose to square rather than shoot, came and went. However, the visitors failed to test Palace’s defence or goalkeeper sufficiently before the break, registering not a single shot on target in the first half.
The lack of creativity and movement in the final third summed up a half that lacked intensity from the Bees.
The second half brought a swift second goal for the hosts, just six minutes after the restart. Lerma’s long throw into the Brentford box was flicked on and, under pressure, captain Nathan Collins headed the ball into his own net.
The unfortunate defensive error ended hopes of a Brentford fightback and injected further momentum into Palace’s evening. From that point on, the hosts were comfortable, dictating tempo and largely preventing Brentford from establishing any meaningful rhythm.
Brentford’s best opportunity came late in the game when substitute Reiss Nelson forced a sharp save from Dean Henderson, but by then the match had already been decided. Palace, content with their two-goal cushion, maintained compactness and looked well-drilled defensively.
The home side’s crowd appreciated the calmness with which the team managed the closing stages, as Brentford’s push for a consolation goal faded quickly.
For Crystal Palace, the tactical message was simple: dominate set-pieces and dead-ball situations, turn them into goals, and defend solidly. They delivered that plan with precision.
Mateta’s header underlines his growing importance — he now has eight goals across all competitions this season and remains the focal point of Glasner’s attack.
Meanwhile, their defence and shape were disciplined throughout. Brentford were prevented from establishing any sustained control or fluid attacking sequences.
Brentford, by contrast, looked frustratingly flat. Their usual set-piece threat and energy were missing. The own goal from Collins was a breakdown in concentration and an example of how pressure can turn into panic when a team is chasing a game.
Their attacking players seldom linked or created danger; their momentum never gathered pace. It was a performance that will concern manager Thomas Frank, who watched his side lack urgency and creativity for large parts of the match.