EPL: Palace Defends Resolutely to Earn Point Against Bournemouth

Crystal Palace earned a hard-fought draw against Bournemouth despite being reduced to 10 men after Chris Richards' red card.

Bournemouth missed an opportunity to close the gap on the Premier League's top seven after being held to a draw by 10-man Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. Despite dominating possession in the second half, Andoni Iraola's side failed to break down Palace's organized defense.

The match turned after Chris Richards' dismissal in first-half stoppage time, leaving Palace to defend with 10 men for over half the game. The red card came after Richards was booked earlier for a foul on Dango Ouattara and then received a second yellow for a tug on Justin Kluivert.

The draw extends Bournemouth's points tally to 49, a club record in the Premier League, but they remain five points behind seventh-placed Aston Villa. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Palace's defense held firm, and the visitors struggled to create clear-cut chances aside from a tame Evanilson header.

Bournemouth will view this result as a major missed opportunity, with frustration mounting over their inability to capitalize on their numerical advantage after Chris Richards' red card. Despite dominating possession, the Cherries struggled to create clear-cut chances, particularly in the second half.

The referee's decisions played a significant role in the match, with Palace feeling that Tyler Adams was fortunate to avoid a second yellow card after a tussle with Will Hughes. Meanwhile, Bournemouth's Alex Scott was replaced at halftime after being cautioned for a foul on Ismaila Sarr, and Adams was later substituted for Marcus Tavernier.

Crystal Palace hold on to a point after playing the second half v Bournemouth with ten players 🦅🍒#CRYBOU pic.twitter.com/jIRfmyPQaA

— Premier League (@premierleague) April 19, 2025

Bournemouth's best chance came early in the game when Dean Huijsen failed to steer Antoine Semenyo's delivery past Dean Henderson. Despite applying pressure in the latter stages, the Cherries rarely looked like scoring. The draw means Bournemouth could end the weekend eight points outside the top seven, but they still have a chance to secure a European spot with an eighth-place finish.

Despite recent heavy defeats, Crystal Palace had accumulated impressive Premier League points since October 27, highlighting Oliver Glasner's excellent work at Selhurst Park. In their match against Bournemouth, Palace defended resolutely after Chris Richards' red card, earning a hard-fought draw.

The Eagles had promising moments, including Jean-Philippe Mateta nearly scoring from Daniel Munoz's low cross. In the second half, Maxence Lacroix was inches away from connecting with Will Hughes' free-kick, and Ilia Zabarnyi's headed clearance sailed narrowly over the crossbar.

As the game wore on, Bournemouth resorted to long-range shots, but Antoine Semenyo's late effort flew high over the bar. Palace now face Arsenal in the Premier League before taking on Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-finals.