However, fast forward three days, and their merry spirits transitioned into a sickening hangover against the Premier League’s rock-bottom side, Southampton.
Palace had not conceded on the road since Christmas, becoming the first English top-flight side to win six games away from home in all competitions while keeping a clean sheet. Yet it was Southampton – the team with the fewest goals in the Premier League this season – who deprived Palace of their squeaky-clean record.
The first chance fell Palace’s way when Jean-Philippe Mateta shrugged off Jan Bednarek in the middle of the park and launched a shot from range. Aaron Ramsdale was beaten, but the crossbar denied the Frenchman a spectacular start.
Despite the early flash from Oliver Glasner’s side, it was Southampton who looked the favourites as Palace faltered. Pressure was coming down both wings, Daniel Munoz and Nathaniel Clyne were particularly struggling.
It took only 20 minutes for Southampton to punish the Eagles’ timidness. A quick passing move had the Palace backline dazed. Paul Onuachu found space between Clyne and Munoz. Mateus Fernandes swept a cross from the right towards the striker, who towered high and bulleted his header into the Palace net. Eagles goalkeeper Dean Henderson got a strong hand to it and should have done better.
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There was hardly a glimmer from Palace. They could not get going. Although they had the bulk of possession, they were not doing anything with it.
Aaron Ramsdale was called into action for the first time in the 35th minute when Nathaniel Clyne drove a pass into Mateta’s feet. The forward turned and got his shot away, but the English keeper showed a strong arm to deny Palace a leveller.
Glasner’s side were a little livelier in the second half, albeit they would have struggled to have been any more sluggish.
The Austrian rolled the dice with a triple substitution of Ben Chilwell, Daichi Kamada and Eddie Nketiah in the 60th minute. Matheus Franca was introduced for the final 15 minutes.
Eberechi Eze miscued a couple of half chances off target, while Eddie Nketiah could not utilise a threatening ball in behind.
Palace, for the most part, were lethargic. However, in the first minute of eight added on, substitute Franca stepped up to save their blushes, feasting off Jefferson Lerma's whipped cross from the left wing and glancing a header into the near post as he netted his first goal for the football club.
Glasner's side were disappointing, and their high standards dropped at St Mary's. The quest to break into the pack chasing Europe has been damaged by Wednesday's result, with the Eagles seven points behind rivals Brighton, who they face at Selhurst Park on Saturday.