ATTILIO Lombardo made an unhappy start to his unlikely term as Crystal Palace player-coach as his side were swept aside by Aston Villa in a Premiership encounter short on genuine quality at Villa Park. Palace were no match even for a Villa side that seldom moved into top gear. Two goals from fit again striker Savo Milosevic also took Villa to within three points of the 42-point mark that manager John Gregory has set them to ensure Premiership survival. The game was over as a contest by half-time. Indeed Villa needed only 59 seconds to break the deadlock. Recalled wing-back Fernando Nelson had time to deliver an inviting inch perfect cross which the unmarked lan Taylor headed past an exposed Palace 'keeper Kevin Miller. In the 15th minute Julian Joachim he was chopped down in the area by Valeden Ismael and up stepped Milosevic to send Miller the wrong way with the resulting penalty. After 36 minutes Palace cracked again. A left-wing centre from Steve Staunton was brought down by Milosevic, who had time to turn and volleyed a left-footed shot past Miller. Palace grabbed a spectacular late consolation when Matt Jansen fired an unstoppable 25-yard drive past Bosnich but it was always going be just a momentary show of fighting spirit.