Mateta: It's been a good start for us
Jean-Philippe Mateta is looking to maintain Palace's strong start to the new season when the Eagles travel to Birmingham for a Sunday evening (19:00 BST) clash with Aston Villa.
In the final game before the international break, Palace will be looking to maintain our unbeaten start to the new Premier League season.
With August also seeing the team lift the Community Shield and progress in Europe, a win would complete a satisfying opening month.
Palace and Villa met four times across the 2024/25 season, the Eagles coming out on top in three of those encounters. The hosts will be aiming for revenge on Sunday night, but Mateta says his teammates will take confidence from a strong run of form when stepping out at Villa Park.
"I think it will be tricky. They are a good team," the forward said. "But we are on a very good run.
"It's been a good start for us and I feel like we've deserved it because we work very hard.
"We have a fantastic manager who has told us what to do on the pitch. We try to give 100% effort to what he instructs us to do on the pitch.
"I think that's why our statistics are good. Even before this [run of form] we always worked hard. And now we are getting the rewards."
Mateta will go in search for his first Premier League goal of the new season on Sunday, having already netted in the Community Shield and UEFA Conference League.
That would bring the first 'BOOM' of the league campaign, and the French forward believes the noise from the travelling Palace fans will prove crucial in our efforts to get a positive result.
"Yes they are," Mateta said when asked if the 'booms' were getting louder with each goal. "I think it is because we keep winning games and the people are even more happy.
"It's great and I love it. That's why I try to score as many goals as possible for the team and for the fans.
"They [the supporters] push us. We need them and I think they do very well for us."
Match Details
Aston Villa v Crystal Palace
- Sunday, 31st August
- 19:00 BST
- Premier League
- Villa Park
- Sky Sports (UK)
- Live audio commentary on Palace TV+.