Oliver Glasner criticised his Crystal Palace team for lacking leadership and crumbling in the face of adversity after they were stunned by three Burnley goals in seven minutes.
Palace had led 2-0 late in the first half and manager Glasner said: “As soon as something [challenging] happens in a game, we get nervous. We had no one on the pitch to take leadership and calm things down. We got nervous and affected each other and did crazy things.
“Before the first goal, there was a lack of intensity. One of their players was lying on the ground, and we helped them up like it was a Sunday afternoon in the garden. We were walking around.
“We have to learn to be focused for the whole game. I didn’t recognise my team in the seven minutes the game was turned around in. If they do this in training, I go crazy.”
For Burnley, it was their first Premier League win since October 26, bringing a 16-game top-flight winless run — the second-longest in their history — to an end.
It remains an uphill battle for Burnley to retain their Premier League status, with a nine-point deficit to overturn to escape the bottom three, but this was a performance for Scott Parker and his side to be proud of.
“We’ve been through some tough times, some soul searching coming off the back of the weekend, so this means a lot,” said Burnley manager Parker. “Tonight was everything that I’ve preached to this group. If ever there were any questions or doubts about the fight, spirit and commitment, we dispelled that tonight.
“There aren’t many teams in our position that could do that. After the home fixture against West Ham, booed by our own fans, coming here and playing like that speaks volumes.”
Glasner said his side did ‘crazy things’ after getting ‘nervous’
EVERY SECOND MEDIA/ALAMY
Palace’s club-record signing Jorgen Strand Larsen, a £43million arrival from Wolves, scored twice on his home debut in the first 35 minutes. Netting his first Palace goal, he ran in behind to meet a ball over the top from Adam Wharton and produced an intelligent, sliced finish on the bounce to leave Martin Dubravka helpless.
The Norwegian doubled the lead when he met Jefferson Lerma’s sharp cross to head into the Burnley net.
Burnley earned a lifeline when Hannibal Mejbri received Marcus Edwards’ pass on the edge of the penalty area and rifled a right-footed shot inside the near post.
Minutes later, they were level. Lesley Ugochukwu stole possession in midfield and outmuscled Aston Villa loanee Evann Guessand. Ugochukwu drove forward and slipped Jaidon Anthony in on his left and he produced a lovely finish from the edge of the area.
Burnley players couldn’t believe their luck after a Lerma own goal overturned a two goal lead in seven minutes
SIMON DAEL/SHUTTERSTOCK
Both goals came from moves of real quality, though there was nothing fashionable about the third. A corner from Anthony was met by Bashir Humphreys, who headed towards goal, but a mix-up between Henderson and Lerma led to the Colombian turning the ball into his own net.
Palace were hoping to dispel any lingering relegation concerns with a victory. Instead, they played as though the game were already won at two goals up and now find themselves glancing over their shoulders with an eight-point cushion over West Ham in 18th.
They could have earned a point late on last night but Daichi Kamada headed Daniel Muñoz’s cross wide from close range.
Crystal Palace (3-4-3): Henderson; Lerma (Riad 45), Lacroix, Richards; Muñoz (Pino 71), Wharton (Uche 82), Kamada (Hughes 71), Mitchell; Sarr, Strand Larsen, Guessand (Johnson 58). Booked: Lerma, Richards.
Burnley (5-2-3): Dubravka; Walker, Laurent, Worrall, Esteve, Humphreys; Ugochukwu (Morris Luís 87), Mejbri (Ward-Prowse 82); Edwards (Bruun Larsen 73), Flemming (Foster 73), Anthony. Booked: Mejbri