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VILLA THRILLER

Aston Villa 3 Crystal Palace 1: Villans score three in 13 minutes to seal famous comeback as stricken Hodgson denied win

ASTON VILLA pulled off one of the greatest smash and grab acts Villa Park has ever witnessed as Unai Emery's battlers emerged 3-1 winners - despite trailing with three minutes remaining!

Palace appeared to be cruising to a hard-fought victory after Odsonne Edouard delivered the perfect tonic for stricken Palace boss Roy Hodgson with what appeared to be the winner - two minutes into the second half.

Douglas Luiz struck a 98th-minute penalty to complete Aston Villa's turnaround
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Douglas Luiz struck a 98th-minute penalty to complete Aston Villa's turnaroundCredit: Reuters
Leon Bailey added a third in the 101st minute to see off Crystal Palace
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Leon Bailey added a third in the 101st minute to see off Crystal PalaceCredit: Reuters

However Roy's day ended in despair as Villa snatched an amazing victory from the jaws of defeat with THREE late sucker punches to leave Palace dazed and bewildered.

Super sub Jhon Duran struck a sensational equaliser three minutes from the end of regulation time with a stunning chest and volley finish which left Sam Johnstone grasping at thin air.

Then in a dramatic finale Villa were awarded a controversial penalty EIGHT minutes into stoppage time.

Ollie Watkins was bursting through on goal when Palace defender Chris Richards slid in from behind to send the striker tumbling to the turf.

Referee Darren England had no hesitation and pointed to the spot to Palace's fury.

VAR decided to intervene and informed England that he had better take another look.

On the evidence shown it looked as though Richards had got his toe to the initial ball and then managed to hook the ball away from Watkins cleanly.

However the drama continued to pile up as England went to the pitchside monitor to take a look, then another look and then a third and fourth look before finally deciding to stick with his original decision.

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As the Holte End erupted with joy, Douglas Luiz remained the calmest man inside Villa Park as he stepped forward to send Johnstone the wrong way from the spot.

Incredibly the scoring didn't end there as Moussa Diaby then hared forward and got round the back of the Palace defence to lay the ball into the path of sub Leon Bailey, who checked before slamming the ball home.

It was a 101st minute winner and it capped off wild celebrations from the Villa supporters as Emery's men made it 10 wins on the spin at home.

It was a dismal end to a dismal day for Palace who had to perform without manager Hodgson. who was taken ill before the match and his place had to be taken by his assistant Paddy McCarthy.

Check out how the game unfolded at Villa Park...

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