Crystal Palace return from the international break with a clash against Bournemouth on the horizon, but Oliver Glasner should be feeling confident.
Before the break, Crystal Palace saw their incredible 19-game unbeaten run brought to an end in devastating fashion by Everton.
Oliver Glasner was in positive spirits after that game, suggesting the Eagles can now embark on a new unbeaten run rather than being downhearted about their previous run ending.
Bournemouth are a fantastic team, though. With impressive players like Antoine Semenyo, Palace fans will be wary of the Cherries. Still, it’s safe to say Glasner’s men have history on their side ahead of this weekend’s Premier League game.
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Crystal Palace’s unbeaten run started against Bournemouth
First off, it’s worth noting that Palace’s unbeaten run actually began way back in April with a 0-0 draw against Bournemouth.
In that game, Oliver Glasner saw his team reduced to ten men thanks to Chris Richards’ red card in first-half stoppage time. Despite this, Palace were able to hold firm and clinch a hard-earned point.
Given all the talk recently about the incredible coincidence that Everton also ended Palace’s previous best unbeaten run (back in 1969), it figures that fate could hand them another kickstart against Bournemouth this weekend.
While that past meeting with the Cherries wasn’t a victory, it will certainly have felt like one for Glasner and his men, after playing a full half with one man less than their opponents. Funnily enough, that’s something we’ll come back to shortly.
Crystal Palace vs Bournemouth was a Premier League first for the BBC
This is not the first meeting between Crystal Palace and Bournemouth, of course. Far from it, in fact, with 81 games played between the two sides already.
Overall, it’s actually Bournemouth who have the upper hand, with 32 wins to Palace’s 28. But, there is one landmark game that stands out for Crystal Palace: a 2-0 win over the Cherries back in 2020.
| Date | Result | Competition |
| 12 May 2019 | Crystal Palace 5-3 AFC Bournemouth | Premier League |
| 03 Dec 2019 | Crystal Palace 1-0 AFC Bournemouth | Premier League |
| 20 Jun 2020 | AFC Bournemouth 0-2 Crystal Palace | Premier League |
| 15 Sep 2020 | AFC Bournemouth 0-0 Crystal Palace | League Cup |
| 31 Dec 2022 | AFC Bournemouth 0-2 Crystal Palace | Premier League |
| 13 May 2023 | Crystal Palace 2-0 AFC Bournemouth | Premier League |
| 06 Dec 2023 | Crystal Palace 0-2 AFC Bournemouth | Premier League |
| 02 Apr 2024 | AFC Bournemouth 1-0 Crystal Palace | Premier League |
| 26 Dec 2024 | AFC Bournemouth 0-0 Crystal Palace | Premier League |
| 19 Apr 2025 | Crystal Palace 0-0 AFC Bournemouth | Premier League |
That was Palace’s first game back in action after the Covid-19 lockdown, and was actually the BBC’s first-ever televised live Premier League match — it was the first live league game they broadcast since 1988, before the Premier League was formed.
Crystal Palace won that game 2-0 thanks to goals from Jordan Ayew and then-captain, Luka Milivojevic. The win at the Vitality Stadium, at the time, moved Palace close to European contention. Of course, that dream is now very much a reality.
It also came after an extended break due to lockdown, of which Milivojevic said (via BBC Sport): “It was a perfect night for us, we cannot have imagined a better beginning after a big break. Three points and clean sheet, I am very proud of the boys. It is not easy to continue after a break but it is great tonight.”
Could Palace bag another important win this weekend after the international break to keep themselves on track for another year of continental competition?
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10-man Crystal Palace punished Bournemouth in 2019
Whatever happens at the weekend, Glasner will be hoping his players keep their cool and that they avoid a repeat of Chris Richards’ dismissal last time the two sides met.
If we go back to 2019, though, the Eagles had an even tougher challenge when it comes to numerical disadvantages. A 1-0 win against Bournemouth in December of that year came in spite of Mamadou Sakho being sent off in the 19th minute.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 4 |  BournemouthBournemouth | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 14 |
| 5 |  Manchester CityManchester City | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 6 | 9 | 13 |
| 6 |  Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 12 |
| 7 |  ChelseaChelsea | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 11 |
| 8 |  EvertonEverton | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 11 |
Not only did Palace cling on, they managed to bag all three points thanks to a Jeffrey Schlupp goal with 14 minutes to go. Naturally, you’d see that as a bit of a lucky result, and a missed opportunity for Bournemouth. Roy Hodgson didn’t agree, though.
At the time, he said: “It was a great victory. I’m full of praise for what the players did today. To firstly lose your centre-back to a challenge which the referee deems to be a red card, and then to lose a left-back in an area where we have no cover… I thought the players showed an outstanding attitude at the back.
“Normally when you win 1-0 with 10 men you think you were lucky, but that wasn’t really the case and we had a few chances of our own so I’m delighted for the players.”
Referee Jarred Gillett is in charge for the upcoming Bournemouth game, and Palace fans will remember the rather fortuitous decision he had a hand in (as part of the VAR team) during the FA Cup final to save Dean Henderson’s blushes after a fairly blatant handball outside the box.
Whether it be luck or good discipline, Palace will fancy their chances with 11 men on the pitch rather than fighting against the odds like they have in the past.
