Crystal Palace 2 Huddersfield Town 0: Eagles win to send Terriers down

The Eagles have found goals hard to come by at home this season but were gifted the chance to break the deadlock when Juninho Bacuna carelessly fouled Wilfried Zaha in the 75th minute.

Luka Milivojevic converted from the spot for his 10th goal of the season, easing the concerns of the home fans after an otherwise frustrating performance from their side.

Palace secured all three points in the 88th minute, Patrick van Aanholt showing his team-mates how to finish by slotting a low drive underneath goalkeeper Ben Hamer.

With Burnley and Southampton both winning on Saturday, Huddersfield now know they will drop down a level at the end of their second season in the top flight.

The Terriers' future was confirmed with six games remaining, meaning they join Derby County as the only clubs to be relegated from the Premier League before the end of March.

Huddersfield had their chances to grab the crucial first goal and extend their hopes of a miraculous escape, only for home goalkeeper Vicente Guaita to twice deny Chris Lowe in the first half.

Palace's poor finishing appeared set to give Jan Siewert's side a stay of execution, Andros Townsend guilty of the worst miss when he inexplicably dragged wide with a clear sight of goal.

However, Palace finally located the net thanks to set-piece specialist Milivojevic, with Van Aanholt adding a late second as Roy Hodgson's team claimed a much-needed result that lifts them eight points clear of 18th-placed Cardiff City.

Confirmation that Huddersfield are relegated from the #PL pic.twitter.com/5xmRHjcXDf

— Premier League (@premierleague) March 30, 2019

Huddersfield marked their Premier League debut last August with a 3-0 win at Selhurst Park – now, at the same venue, their fate was sealed.

Relegation was always a matter of when, rather than if. Yet the game summed up their testing season as a whole – they defended stoutly for the majority but could not score, meaning they have still managed just 18 league goals in 2018-19.

Zaha demonstrates his influence again

Palace left the field at half-time to a smattering of boos after a tepid performance but perked up after the break thanks to their talisman.

Having seen Townsend waste his good work by firing wide, Zaha tempted Bacuna into a challenge that was quickly spotted by referee Lee Probert. He then also provided the assist for his side's second goal, setting Van Aanholt free down Palace's left.

Townsend fluffs his lines

Townsend is enjoying the best season of his career in terms of goals, yet the winger was unable to add to his tally of seven despite having five attempts.

His failure to convert with only Hamer to beat looked set to be costly until Bacuna’s ill-timed challenge spared his blushes.