Southampton condemned Crystal Palace to the Premier League relegation zone with a 3-1 victory at Selhurst Park this afternoon.
Sadio Mane's 17th-minute opener got the ball rolling for the Saints, who were three clear shortly into the second half thanks to Ryan Bertrand and Toby Alderweireld.
Eagles defender Scott Dann headed in a late consolation for Neil Warnock's men, but it was not enough to prevent them from falling into the bottom three following a sixth straight game without victory.
Meanwhile, the three points lift Southampton above West Ham United and back into the top four.
Below, Sports Mole rates and slates the players who were on show in London.
© Getty ImagesPALACE
Goal
Julian Speroni: The crossbar saved him when he was caught out by an audacious early Alderweireld lob. Got a hand to a header from the same player, but could not keep it out. (5/10)
Defence
Adrian Mariappa: Made his first start in over six weeks at right-back and did make some good attacking contributions when Palace were pushing forward, but lost Bertrand for the second goal. (6/10)
Scott Dann: Gave Palace fans at least a little festive cheer when his excellent header found the bottom corner late on. Elsewhere, was the most solid of a home defence which was disjointed following changes. (7/10)
Damien Delaney: His left foot gives Palace a nice balance in their central defensive pairing, but Delaney is not the most mobile and could not cope with the movement of Mane. Booked in the second half. (5/10)
Joel Ward: Rarely lets Palace down regardless of where he plays, but he was turned by Mane in the build-up to Southampton's second goal. Put in a few good crosses which led to little. (6/10)
Midfield
Mile Jedinak: The Australian has plenty of admirers among Premier League managers and fans, but struggled against a midfield trio of Davis, Schneiderlin and Ward-Prowse which moved the ball better and quicker than Jedinak and company. (6/10)
James McArthur: Of the three Palace central midfielders, he provided the most impetus going forward. Has hinted of late that he has goals in him and was always willing to make runs into the box. (6/10)
Joe Ledley: Could not help the Eagles win the battle in the centre of the park and was also wayward with a couple of shots. Hooked around the hour mark as Warnock searched for a comeback. (5/10)
Yannick Bolasie: Was again Palace's most likely and lively attacker. His substitution with 20 minutes to go was greeted by boos, but it was a case of Warnock saving his star man for more important causes. (7/10)
Jason Puncheon: Left Southampton to join Palace last season, but could not come back to haunt his former club. Sent a decent low shot at Forster in the early stages, but faded out of the game with each passing minute. (6/10)
Attack
Fraizer Campbell: Hard a very hard task leading the Palace line against three defenders. Could have used more support. Not convinced that Warnock trusts him and he left the action immediately after Southampton's second. (5/10)
Substitutes
Dwight Gayle: Appeared ever so slightly more dangerous than Campbell when he replaced him on 50 minutes. (6/10)
Wilfried Zaha: One or two flashes of his undoubted skill, but that is not enough to get him in the first team at the minute. (6/10)
Martin Kelly: Having been a regular all season, Kelly was surprisingly left out of the starting XI. Came on for Bolasie in the second half and bombed up and down the right flank. (6/10)
© Getty ImagesSOUTHAMPTON
Goal
Fraser Forster: Had few saves to make and could do little about the precise nature of Dann's header. Was a towering presence to come off his line and claim multiple set pieces with confidence. (7/10)
Defence
Nathaniel Clyne: Given a round of applause by the entire ground on his return to Selhurst Park, where he defended with his usual physicality and made countless runs forward down the right. (7/10)
Maya Yoshida: Had a quiet afternoon. Was never tested in the air and seldom along the ground. (6/10)
Florin Gardos: Making his first Premier League start since his £4m summer arrival, the Romanian was in the right place to make a couple of vital interventions. Took up some good positions. (7/10)
Toby Alderweireld: Led the defence in the absence of skipper Jose Fonte and showed great determination and desire to climb highest and head in the goal which killed off Palace hopes. His loan signing could prove to be one of the shrewdest of the last transfer window. (7/10)
Ryan Bertrand: Relished being given more attacking freedom as a wing-back and one of his forward ventures saw him meet Mane's cut-back with an emphatic finish - on his weaker foot. (8/10)
Midfield
Steven Davis: Kept things ticking over in midfield. Is an under-appreciated performer in this Saints team and his importance to Ronald Koeman was evident when he was rested for the final half-hour. (6/10)
Morgan Schneiderlin: The Frenchman returned to the Saints midfield following a couple of muscle problems, and it was as if he had never been away. Holding on to him in January will be key to Southampton's European chances. (7/10)
James Ward-Prowse: The fit-again youngster was very impressive. Combined well with Mane for the first goal and whipped in a perfect corner for the third during a noteworthy performance. Probably one of the best set-piece deliverers in the division. (8/10)
Attack
Sadio Mane: The Senegalese winger was asked to play in a central role and performed very well, smarting with his well-taken goal on 17 minutes. He also supplied Bertrand with Southampton's second and was a constant menace to the Palace defence with his trickery and movement. Arguably the best player on the park. (8/10)
Graziano Pelle: Largely got the better of Dann and Delaney in the air and won the knockdown which eventually led to Southampton's first goal. Will be pleased with his first experience of a festive fixture. (7/10)
Substitutes
Victor Wanyama: Gave Southampton extra protection and power in the middle of the park and embarked on a few unstoppable driving runs. (6/10)
Shane Long: Could not put the icing on the cake with a fourth goal when he was brought on for Pelle with 25 minutes remaining. (6/10)
Jason McCarthy: The Saints showed off another of their academy graduates when teenage defender McCarthy came on for the final few minutes. (6/10)
Joe Fish
