Olise leads Bees a merry dance as Eagles rediscover the joys of winning at Selhurst
Crystal Palace (2) 3 Olise 14,58, Eze 39
Brentford (1) 1 Lewis-Potter 2
The Banker Draw derby finally shed its reputation for drab stalemates as two-goal Michael Olise led the Eagles to only their second home win of the campaign and a first win in nine.
The winger, who scored in the midweek defeat at Chelsea, was in irresistible form and led the fightback after the Bees had stolen an early lead.
It was hard to tell whose need was greater ahead of kick-off, with Palace on a run of eight without a win and none at home since victory over Wolves in early September, while Bees had lost six of the past seven.
Luton's defeat at home to Chelsea in the lunchtime game will have felt very welcome to both clubs in their bid to avoid seeing their seasons develop into full-blown crises. For now, last year's promoted trio remain in the basement and favourites to go down.
The Bees opened the scoring with a beauty. Mathias Jensen's backheel released Mads Roerslev down the right and his low cross was met sweetly by Keane Lewis-Potter at the near post - Nathaniel Clyne unable to keep pace with the striker's dash into the danger zone.
But the Eagles were soon on level terms - even allowing for the three-minute delay caused by a VAR check before Brentford's goal was ratified. A simple curling cross from Jordan Ayew was met by Olise's volley after a perfectly-timed run to the far post.
The same Bees combination of Jensen-Roerslev-Lewis-Potter almost saw the visitors regain the lead but it was the Eagles who struck again before the half was out - Ebere Eze alert to the possibilities as a ball came in from Tyrick Mitchell on the left.
His first touch freed up space and his second was a fine drilled shot into the far bottom corner for his third of the season.
But the day belonged to Olise. Moments after he had a shot charged down by Mark Flekken, he was again running at the opposition at pace and his neat side-step of Nathan Collins was rounded off with a pass into the net.
It was his fifth of the season since returning from a lengthy lay-off and oozed class on a day when Palace shook off their dreadful home form which had seen just eight goals in nine fixtures before today.
He came close to claiming a treble too - another effort flashing just wide - and his excellence once again emphasised just how much the depleted Bees are suffering in the absence of their own star names right now.
Neal Maupay came on for Brentford and rattled the woodwork as the Bees searched for a way back, but that was as close as they came to challenging the destiny of the precious points on offer.
After five consecutive draws between the teams, there was very much a winner this time around.
Brentford's next league fixture after FA Cup weekend is at home to Nottingham Forest and they will be anxious to halt the slide in that one - especially with Spurs and Man City their opponents in the following games.
Roy Hodgson, whose programme notes read almost like a farewell speech - he has become famously disillusioned of late - must take heart from a far better outing for his team.
They face Arsenal away and Sheffield United at home after their FA Cup tie against Everton.
Eagles: (4-3-3) Henderson - Clyne, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell - Lerma. Richards, Eze (Hughes86) - Olise, Mateta (Franca 86), Ayew (Schlupp 90+2)
Bees: (3-5-2) Flekken - Zanka, Collins, Pinnock - Roerslev (Onyeka 63), Jensen (Maupay 63), Norgaard (Damsgaard 67), Janelt (Yarmoliuk 80), Ghoddos - Lewis-Potter (Olakigbe 80), Wissa
