Dwight Gayle scored an injury-time winner as Crystal Palace snatched all three points from Aston Villa on Boxing Day.

The game had a tentative start with neither side able to test their opposite goalkeeper in the opening 10 minutes.

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However, Aston Villa started to get on top of the game, with Libor Kozak in particular causing Palace problems with his aerial presence.

On rare forays forward, Cameron Jerome was being well marshalled by Nathan Baker, who intercepted a couple of Mile Jedinak balls forward to the striker.

Kozak had a half-chance from a whipped free kick from Marc Albrighton, but he glanced his effort well wide having made very little contact.

Right after the break Palace might have gone ahead. Yannick Bolasie pipped the ball from Antonio Luna and cut to Jason Puncheon, but the winger could not beat Brad Guzan.

Former Villa man Barry Bannan then came as close as either side had to that point, firing a low shot that was just tipped onto the post by Guzan.

Bolasie, the best player on the park as the game reached the closing stages, then found Joel Ward but his curling effort from range went narrowly over.

However, they were not to be denied as Gayle curled an effort beyond the reach of Guzan into the corner for what could be three huge points.