Report: Albion 5 Crystal Palace 0

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An Amex afternoon to remember as five different scorers help lift Albion to second in the Premier League.

Bruce Talbot

2026-10-18T15:53+01:00

Getting a grip: Pascal Gross's face says it all after Yasin Ayari made it 3-0. 📷James Boardman

Albion swept aside Palace to chalk up a sixth successive win with a brilliant display at the Amex.

Palace were swept away by three Albion goals inside ten minutes including a goal of the season contender by Diego Gomez from the halfway line.

At 51.3 yards, it was the longest distance a Premier League goal has been scored from since Wayne Rooney in 2017 and only seven players have scored from further out in the league's history.

An own goal and Yasin Ayari’s strike put Albion in control and they had a fourth early in the second half through Babis Kostoulas before substitute Jack Hinshelwood made it 5-0 in the closing stages. It was the first time in 70 years that Albion had scored five times against Palace.

Albion are in front as Palace defender Jaydev Canvot heads into his own net. 📷James Boardman

There could have been more goals with Ferdi Kadioglu and Kostoulas going close as Albion controlled the game all over the pitch and especially in midfield where Pascal Gross - who added two more to his collection of assists - Ayari and Gomez were an irresistible combination of intensity, physicality and brilliant use of space and the ball.

The start could not have been any better from Albion’s perspective.

Just five minutes in and Gross whipped in a free-kick from the left which was begging to be attacked but the first head up was Palace defender Jaydev Canvot who diverted it past Walter Benitez.

Diego Gomez's grin says it all after he scored a stunning goal against Palace. 📷Paul Hazlewood

Two minutes later it was 2-0 thanks to a brilliant piece of improvisation by Diego Gomez. Spotting that Benitez had strayed outside the six-yard box the midfielder took a touch before driving a first-time shot from a yard inside Palace’s half over the stranded keeper and into the net.

The Amex was in raptures and it got even better. Albion broke again from midfield, Kostoulas fed the ball across the face of goal and the unmarked Ayari swept a right-foot shot into the bottom corner from about 12 yards. 3-0 and we’d played nine minutes and 30 seconds. It was the earliest a team had scored three goals since April 2023 in the Premier League.

Diego Gomez's grin says it all after he scored a stunning goal against Palace. 📷Paul Hazlewood

Benitez held a shot from Kostoulas at the second attempt when Albion broke after Yeremy Pino’s free-kick hit the defensive wall. Ayari’s strike was on target until it took a deflection as Albion continued to swarm over the visitors and when Ferdi Kadioglu struck the ball perfectly from the edge of the box it needed Benitez to make a fingertip save.

Four minutes into the second half and it was 4-0. Kostoulas had just fired inches wide after a brilliant long-range pass from the left by Luka Vuskovic when Gross - inevitably - measured a cross from the left to Ayari. The Swede’s shot was blocked but Kostoulas was first to react and lifted a left-foot shot past Benitez from close range.

Substitute Jean-Philippe Mateta should have pulled one back but from six yards out and with only Bart Verbruggen to beat his shot hit the bar. The thinning ranks of Palace fans behind the goal couldn’t believe it.

Lewis Dunk is sent flying by a tackle but the Albion captain ended up enjoying his afternoon immensely. 📷James Boardman

A brilliant afternoon was rounded off seven minutes from time. Vuskovic made a great run round the back to meet Hadjam Jaouen's corner and although Benitez parried his header it went straight to Hinshelwood who couldn't miss from a yard.

A fifth goal from an academy graduate in the game that means more than any other to Albion fans - and in front of north stand too. The perfect end to a perfect day.

Albion: Verbruggen, Boscagli (Hadjam 80), Vuskovic, Dunk (Svoboda 90), Kadioglu, De Cuyper, Gross (Hinshelwood 70), Chema, Ayari (Yalcouye 80), Gomez, Kostoulas (Rutter 70).