*Bakary Sako scored a dramatic late winner on his debut as Crystal Palace beat Aston Villa at Selhurst Park.*

Palace, who had an earlier goal disallowed when James McArthur was adjudged offside, went ahead when Scott Dann headed in Jason Puncheon’s corner.

Villa levelled when Eagles defender Pape Souare deflected the ball into his own net after Adama Traore’s run.

But Sako, who had twice been denied by keeper Brad Guzan, netted a fine winner after Jordan Amavi had lost the ball.

The full-back lost possession close to his own goal and Dann slid a pass to Sako to score on his debut after leaving Wolves on a free transfer in the summer.

This result means Palace have won two of their first three matches of the season, but Villa have now only scored two goals and won one match in the same period.

Villa wasteful in front of goal again

Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood said his side deserved a point and they can be boosted by a hugely impressive 20-minute appearance from substitute Traore, who was making his debut after a £7m move from Barcelona.

Traore helped create Villa’s goal, running with the ball from the right wing to the byeline before his pull-back bounced off Souare and into the net.

However, Sherwood will be concerned by his other strikers. Rudy Gestede, making his first start for the club, twice should have done better with headers that went well wide. Gabriel Agbonlahor’s pace tormented Palace’s Joel Ward but the Villa man should have scored when he was one-on-one with Alex McCarthy.

Last season only relegated Burnley (28) scored fewer goals than Villa (31) and goals again seem to be a worry for Sherwood’s side, who no longer have Christian Benteke.

Pardew changes inspire Palace

Palace had been unimpressive in the first half with only one shot on goal, but two changes at half-time from boss Alan Pardew made a major difference.

Bringing on Dwight Gayle and Jordon Mutch for the ineffective Wilfried Zaha and Glenn Murray caused Villa problems.

Palace had the ball in the net after Gayle’s shot had bounced off McArthur, who was offside, before Dann - tipped for an England call-up by Pardew - scored the hosts’ first goal.

Palace got lucky with their winning goal after Amavi’s error, but they are now fourth in the table and Pardew will be hoping to guide his side to an even higher position this year than their 10th-placed finish last season.