CRYSTAL Palace star Julian Speroni says the timing of the first two goals from Southampton on Boxing Day were game-changers.
Saido Mane put the visitors ahead in the first period before Ryan Bertrand added a second minutes into the second half.
Speroni admitted Southampton were impressive and that Bertrand's goal "killed" Palace.
"I thought they were better on the day, but we had chances in the first half," he told the Advertiser.
"Goals change game, as we know. We conceded a poor goal for the first one and that changed the game.
"I tried to push Mane wide, and I thought he would miss when he took the shot.
"The ball just came back and went in, but sometimes goals turn games and after that they were the better team.
"The second goal, the cross came in and he (Bertrand) placed it really well, back into my near post.
"It was a good finish, but straight after half-time, as I said, goals change the flow of the game.
"The minute we conceded the second, it really killed us."
By Mark Ritson (Twitter @MR_LWMedia)
