Targett on target and Mcginn nets a second, as Gerrard’s team pick up all three points. Palace register their first defeat in two months!

Aston Villa continued their revival under new boss, Steven Gerrard, as they earned a second English Premier League (EPL) victory on the bounce, by beating Crystal Palace 2-1 at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

Successful strikes from Matt Targett and John McGinn propel Villa up to the 11th spot, level on 16 points with 10th-placed Palace, who got a consolation when Marc Guéhi netted in second-half injury time.

The result means that Gerrard becomes the first Villa boss in 23 years to win his first two EPL matches.

The loss was Patrick Vieira’s first home defeat since being appointed Palace manager and their first anywhere, since losing at Liverpool in September.

The home side paid the price for their vulnerability on set-pieces when Ashley Young’s corner in the 15th minute was delivered deep into the box. Matt Targett then brought the ball under his spell and shot low through a crowded box to open the scoring.

Viera’s men had more possession in the first half but were unable to muster any shots on goal, as they struggled to create chances.

The London side didn’t have an effort on target until the 79th minute when Christian Benteke’s acrobatic strike with his back to goal was thwarted by goalkeeper, Emiliano Martínez.

Villa doubled their advantage late in the game when a lovely move down the left found McGinn on the edge of the box and he curled a shot past the home goalkeeper, Vicente Guaita.

Palace finally scored in stoppage-time when Cheikhou Kouyaté’s cross to the near post found Guéhi, who poked the ball past Martínez. However, Villa held on for the win and all three points.