Bakary Sako's first-half strike has helped Crystal Palace claim a 1-0 win over Burnley in Saturday's Premier League meeting at Selhurst Park.

Following a tentative start by both sides, the Mali international was denied the opportunity to score from the spot after James Tarkowski brought the winger down, but referee Michael Oliver waved away the appeals.

On 21 minutes, however, the game's first effort on target yielded the first goal as Sako cut in from the left after good work by Christian Benteke before rifling the ball between the legs of Clarets goalkeeper Nick Pope.

Moments later, Wilfried Zaha pounced on a misjudged Charlie Taylor header back to Pope but Ben Mee cleared the danger before being clattered by James McArthur.

Palace continued to dominate their opponents as Benteke nodded over from a Luka Milivojevic corner, while Sako volleyed just wide from a deep cross from Timothy Fosu-Mensah.

Sean Dyche's charges were brighter after the break as Ashley Barnes sent a header just wide of the far post and Sam Vokes nodded the ball into the side-netting from Phil Bardsley's cross.

Palace were comfortable for most of the game, save for a late ball over the top which found Barnes and saw Wayne Hennessey rushing out of his box to make a fine save.

The result sees Palace edge up to 12th in the table, while Burnley remain seventh, five points behind Arsenal.

CRYSTAL PALACE (4-5-1): Hennessey; Fosu-Mensah, Kelly, Tomkins, Van Aanholt; Zaha, Milivojevic, Riedewald, McArthur, Sako; Benteke.

BURNLEY (4-2-3-1): Pope; Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor; Cork, Defour; Gudmundsson (Wells 85'), Hendrick (N'Koudou 63'), Barnes; Vokes.