U21s: Crystal Palace 4-2 Aston Villa

Aston Villa saw their seven-match unbeaten run come to an end courtesy of a 4-2 defeat at Crystal Palace in Premier League 2.

The hosts opened up a quickfire lead inside the opening seven minutes at the VBS Community Stadium, Luke Plange and Trialist on target with two goals in two minutes.

Plange added his second of the night in first-half injury time and, despite substitute Rory Wilson reducing the arrears, completed his hat-trick just after the hour mark.

Omari Kellyman found the net in the 80^th minute but it proved mere consolation for the Young Lions.

It was only a second defeat in 15 matches for Villa’s Under-21s, who will be looking to respond at home to Leicester City on Friday night.

The Eagles opened the scoring after six minutes as Plange headed in Roshaun Mathurin’s deep cross.

And the hosts doubled their lead within 60 seconds as Trialist embarked on a mazy run before getting the better of Lander Emery.

Villa responded well as they looked to create opportunities for a route back into the encounter, with the hosts forced to defend strongly.

Todd Alcock saw his free-kick tipped over towards the end of the first half as the Villans continued to push forward.

But it was Palace who made it 3-0 on the stroke of half-time thanks to Plange.

Wilson was introduced at the interval and almost made an immediate impact from fellow sub Finley Munroe’s corner.

But he didn’t have to wait long to get on the scoresheet as he played a neat one-two with Kobei Moore before converting with a well-taken right-footed finish in the 54^th minute.

Yet the Eagles restored their three-goal advantage in the 62^nd minute as Plange caught Villa on the counter-attack before finishing past Emery.

Villa refused to give in and Thierry Katsukunya’s header went close before Kellyman made it 4-2 via a sweet free-kick with 10 minutes remaining.

The visitors had a chance to set up a fascinating finale but Lamare Bogarde was denied by a sprawling save from Palace ‘keeper Joe Whitworth with four minutes remaining.