Christian Benteke sinks Leicester to end Crystal Palace’s away drought

Christian Benteke blasted his way back into Roy Hodgson’s good books by scoring his first goal for seven months and creating another for Wilfried Zaha before Bakary Sako gave a suitably emphatic look to Crystal Palace’s first away win of the season. Palace had not mustered a goal on their travels in this campaign but they were worthy winners here, showing a zest and sharpness that was strangely absent from Leicester.

Wilfred Ndidi being sent off for simulation in the second half seemed apt on a day when Leicester played like a poor imitation of the team that had won four in a row before this. Benteke, meanwhile, was far removed from the hapless figure who was lambasted by Palace fans after defying orders and missing a late penalty against Bournemouth last Saturday. He apologised for that folly straight after the game and earned a full pardon with this performance.

“He was very strong and did the right thing after the penalty miss,” said Hodgson. “He held his hands up and everyone at the club appreciated that. We know he’s a quality player. The goal he scored here is the sort of goals he’s going to score. Had it not been for a wonder save by Schmeichel, he would have scored two.”

He could have scored more than that, as he fluffed a chance in the opening minutes and missed a couple of other efforts later on. But that did not matter because he had already done enough.

Benteke crowned a bright start by heading his side in front in the 19th minute, aided by a wonderful cross by Andros Townsend and dire defending by the hosts. The striker was allowed to amble between Wes Morgan and Ben Chilwell to meet Townsend’s delivery from the right and guide a downward header into the centre of the goal as Kasper Schmeichel was caught out.

It was the Belgian’s first club goal since May and, by way of celebration, he plugged a finger in each ear, as if to show he was not interested in hearing praise from people who had ridiculed him during his long barren streak.

He almost gave critics a chance to jab back soon afterwards by coming close to scoring an own goal. Happily for him, his defensive header from a free-kick by Marc Abrighton flew just wide.

He was quickly back causing problems at the other end. After Riyad Mahrez coughed up possession in midfield, Benteke shrugged off Ndidi and threaded a pass through to Zaha, who feinted his way past Chilwell and fired into the net from 10 yards.

Leicester were booed off at half-time by fans who could not grasp how a team that had been full of energy and ideas in recent weeks could suddenly look so hollow. But Claude Puel left Shinji Okazaki on the bench until the last quarter of an hour despite Leicester’s lack of intensity.

The hosts created their best chance in the 49th minute but Julián Speroni foiled Mahrez with an excellent save. Then things got worse for Leicester. They had only themselves to blame although they pointed the finger disingenuously at the referee, Martin Atkinson.

Vicente Iborra had a goal correctly ruled out for a push on James Tomkins. Then Ndidi was booked for collapsing in the box without being touched by a defender. Coming only nine minutes after he had seen yellow for a foul on Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ndidi had to go. Not the sort of cards the midfielder had hoped to receive on his 21st birthday but he deserved them.

Wilfried Zaha lashes home Palace’s second.



Wilfried Zaha lashes home Palace’s second. Photograph: Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images

Hodgson withdrew Benteke in the 87th minute so that he could bask in an ovation from the travelling fans. His replacement, Sako, rounded off the scoring, finishing nicely from the edge of the area after a pass by Loftus-Cheek.

Benteke’s fortunes were not completely transformed. A booking in the second half will deprive him of the opportunity to build on this performance at Swansea next Saturday. All the same, Hodgson, earning a redemption of his own as he guides Palace away from the bottom, is counting on Benteke making a big contribution to the rest of the season. “His record at Aston Villa was a goal every two games and I wouldn’t be surprised if he matched that here. That’s what we’ll be looking for.”