There was criticism when he started work three months after his appointment as England boss, then more when he spent three of his first six weekends on the job in Germany but, finally, Thomas Tuchel has acquired the look of a busy man.

First, an appointment with the Prince of Wales, the president of the Football Association, at Windsor Castle. Then, an evening date at Selhurst Park where Aston Villa, the Prince’s favourite team was taken apart in a contest awash with English talent.

Ismaila Sarr of Senegal scored twice on his 27th birthday for Crystal Palace, and Jean-Philippe Mateta of France took his Premier League tally to 12 for the season but there was plenty for Tuchel to savour beyond a rollicking game before a raucous home crowd.

Wharton, 21 and mature beyond his years, looked as if he had never been away, biting into tackles and dictating the tempo. He had a hand in the first three Palace goals before Eddie Nketiah came on to complete the scoring with his first league goal for Palace.

Marcus Rashford could not have the same impact from the bench, but Morgan Rogers was Villa’s best player and the scorer of their goal. Rogers had another ruled out by an incredibly tight call by VAR when one down.

Ismaila Sarr (second left) scored in either half to seal an impressive win for Crystal Palace

Jean-Philippe Mateta also scored his eighth goal in eight games in 2025 for Palace

Thomas Tuchel was in attendance and will have been impressed by what he saw from a number of English players

‘Maybe unlucky but you have to accept it,’ shrugged Villa boss Unai Emery and some little things did go against his team, and yet he would know there was more to this heavy defeat then ill fortune.

Palace deserved what was only their third home win of this Premier League campaign. It eased them within six points of spluttering Villa, who are leaky at the back amid defensive absentees and the demands and distractions of the Champions League and the FA Cup.

Emery has another injury concern, too, with goalkeeper Emi Martinez off at half-time, replaced by Robin Olsen, who became a pantomime villain for the home crowd having refused to yield from his rigorous warm-up routine to make way for the half-time entertainment.

Palace were 1-0 up at the time. They had taken the lead through Sarr after a spell of pressure created after a corner which should probably have been a goal kick, and although they did not score directly from the set piece the home team kept Villa pinned inside their own penalty area.

When the ball found Wharton wide on the right, he delivered a teasing cross and centre half Chris Richards climbed to apply a powerful header which Martinez could only push towards Sarr, who was alert to convert the rebound.

It was his fifth Premier League goal of the season, broke the game open and he almost scored again, when he met a cross from Eberechi Eze on the volley and forced a fine save from Martinez. The goal lifted the atmosphere and sparked Villa into life.

Villa thought they were level through Rogers, three minutes before half-time. There was no flag but there was a VAR check and when the virtual lines were drawn on screen they ruled Ollie Watkins had a knee poking into an offside position as he broke clear before setting up Rogers to score.

Jacob Ramsey had already seen a goal disallowed for offside when the game was goalless but that was clearly the correct decision, made in real time by the assistant referee and confirmed by VAR.

Tactically, Emery matched Palace’s back-three, stuck with the plan despite changes at half-time and his team were level early in the second half when a long kick by Olsen was flicked on to Rogers who fought past two defenders before finding the net.

Eddie Nketiah completed the scoring in the closing stages after coming off the bench

Morgan Rogers thought he had equalised for Aston Villa in the first half

His celebrations were short-lived as Ollie Watkins was adjudged offside in the build-up

Rogers did get his goal in the second half, but Palace went on to score three more goals to wrap up a dominant win

This time the goal would stand, although Villa did not stay level for long. They lost possession playing out at the back, and Palace worked the ball via Wharton and Eze to Mateta, who lashed in a fierce drive.

It was his eighth in eight Premier League games in 2025. Olsen was beaten again by Sarr, a smart volley from a cross by Dani Munoz before Nketiah came off the bench to score the fourth from close range, from a low cross by Tyrick Mitchell.

‘It’s always a better feeling when you win,’ said Glasner. ‘Defeats against Everton and Brentford really hurt, but we took the right decisions, we talked about how we want to play. And the reaction was great.

‘We were patient, waited for the moments and created many chances. We stayed together and worked hard. And we can see the progress. It’s great to see our players enjoying the game and to hear the fans singing.’