Crystal Palace 2 – 1 Bristol City.

Crystal Palace secured a third win in four games at Selhurst Park on Tuesday night in front of a vibrant crowd of 17,000. Ian Holloway made one change from the impressive victory over Middlesbrough with Yannick Bolasie coming into the team to replace Stephen Dobbie and face his old side. Although Palace controlled large periods of the match Bristol City, fighting for their lives in the Championship, battled bravely offering some attacking threat and keeping the Palace defence on its toes. This was a different type of performance to the Middlesbrough game and indeed a much tighter match. A stubborn performance from Bristol City meant the breakthrough was not forthcoming and Palace had to be patient in possession to break the City backline down.

Unlucky not to take the lead before they did Palace were to be frustrated by the linesman’s flag. Jazz Richards found the net after being played through by Glenn Murray following good work in the build up by Bolasie and Zaha. The decision to deny him was marginal. Yet the Palace fans hoped such up tempo attacking play meant the breakthrough was not far away. Yannick Bolasie was keyed up for the match, facing his old employers for the first time since signing for Palace last August. He combined brilliantly on the wing again with Williams and Zaha. Indeed he nearly put Palace in front producing a marvellous piece of individual skill to create a bicycle kick that smashed off the crossbar.

The goal eventually arrived after thirty four minutes of hard work for the Eagles. It did emphasise the gulf in class and confidence between the top and bottom of the league. As well as this it was a fair reflection of the balance of play in the first half. A quick free kick from Mile Jedinak caught the Bristol City defence off guard and Glenn Murray peeled off the back post to volley Palace into a 1 – 0 half time lead.

The match remained tight at the start of the second half. Bristol City required a response because of their precarious league position and Palace needed a second goal in order to be more comfortable. Julian Speroni was as ever proficient in the Palace goal. Mopping up any threat offered up by the Robins attack supporting the central defensive partnership of Delaney and Ramage. Kevin Phillips and Stephen Dobbie were introduced for Zaha and Williams both of whom were given a rest given the demands of the Championship calendar and three matches in a week. Phillips immediately showed his effectiveness off the bench. Hitting the crossbar and shooting narrowly over with his first two touches, Palace pressed to put the game beyond Bristol City.

The second goal arrived after the hour mark. On sixty five minutes Palace won a free kick when another quick break was cut short by a foul. Stephen Dobbie expertly dispatched the set piece scoring past Tom Heaton in the City goal to make it 2 – 0. Dobbie’s first strike for the Palace made Palace look secure for the first time in the match, finally putting to bed a brave Bristol City challenge. Although City had kept the score line tight a second goal meant they now were punished for failing to offer a penetrative threat on the Palace goal.

The Eagles were made to work hard for this win. Holloway was delighted with the nine points from the last three home games and the exciting times ahead represented by the teams improving performances. This was a sentiment echoed by a delighted crowd and their response to the result at full time. Yannick Bolasie was replaced by Jacob Butterfield on seventy eight minutes and Butterfield could have had a third when he got into the box and had a shot blocked after good link up play with Phillips.

Bristol City got the consolation goal their hard work deserved in the fourth minute of stoppage time. In the only blot on the copybook of the Palace defence all night, Jonathan Parr got his wires crossed with Speroni and failed to deal with a deep cross, heading the ball into his own net passed a bemused and frustrated keeper. Fortunately Palace already had the second goal and the goal came too late to influence the outcome. Palace held on to win 2 – 1.

Palace’s next home match sets up a massive Tuesday night that could be crucial to the outcome of the season against Hull City. Hull is currently in second place in the Championship, four points above the Eagles so the match is shaping up to hold great importance to both teams and the race for promotion. First though Palace is on the road against Sheffield Wednesday and Derby County. These matches will be tough but two victories in a week at home does maintain Palace’s marvellous record at Selhurst Park this season and could not have set up the away games any better. The exciting battle for promotion, automatic or via the playoffs continues to intensify.        

   

Crystal Palace 4 – 1 Middlesbrough.

Crystal Palace seemed to have learned the lessons of recent performances and at Selhurst on Saturday they started quickly taking a 1 – 0 lead inside ten minutes. The first half was a tale of missed opportunities though as after Murray’s goal Palace failed to add to their tally in the first half. Wilfried Zaha was superb under the watchful eye of England manager Roy Hodgson his footwork and trickery set the goal up for Murray. He combined wonderfully with Jonny Williams who was being watched by Welsh national team boss Chris Coleman. Fresh from his game changing, man of the match performance against Watford Williams controlled and worked the football superbly.

Key to the Eagles victory was gaining control of the tempo in the midfield. The reestablishment of the imperious midfield partnership between South African KG Dikgacoi and the masked Australian Mile Jedinak was crucial to this sense of control. Missing over much of 2013 because of either injury or absence due to international duty the duos understanding of each others' play brought about greater assuredness to the Palace midfield. The new arrival of Stephen Dobbie added experience and brought a calm understanding to the teams attacking build up.

Jonathan Parr returned for Dean Moxey at left back. The return of Jedinak (complete with protective face mask) in to an established midfield allowed Ramage and Delaney to get forward and support the Palace attack. Zaha’s trickery was too much for Parnaby and Friend in the Boro defence. Murray and Dobbie went close to adding more goals to the score line before the break in a very controlled performance where Palace was on top. Wastefulness however and the failure to add a second goal almost let Middlesbrough back into the match. Indeed Peter Ramage was called into action before halftime producing a clearance off the line to preserve Palace’s lead. Holloway called for more ruthlessness at half time labelling his teams performance ‘boring’.

Palace responded in the second half with a fast start. Adding clinical finishing to their control of the game Palace added a second goal from a corner on forty eight minutes. Peter Ramage scored his second goal in two matches prolific by a defenders standards. Finding space he showed touch hooking the ball into the net to finally make the score line reflect Palace’s dominance. When the third goal arrived from Murray it was spectacular. A long range shot found the top corner of the net for his twenty seventh goal of the most prolific season of his career. At  3 – 0 Palace were comfortable despite a well finished consolation for Middlesbrough from Faris Huroun slotting in an Ishmael Miller pass.

The attacking options available to Ian Holloway are now more expansive as the squad depth is stronger. There was still time for Yannick Bolasie to be introduced from the bench and he combined with Zaha to create a fourth goal scored by veteran striker Kevin Phillips. Phillips has now scored two goals in three appearances from the bench for Palace since joining from Blackpool on transfer deadline day. Phillips finishing from around the box remains as deadly as it has been throughout his career and he drew special praise from Ian Holloway. A dominant performance means Palace notch another crucial home victory against a playoff rival that cuts the gap to the automatic promotion places to four points.

Another important match on Tuesday night against Bristol City at Selhurst Park fighting for their lives at the opposite end of the table will be crucial in backing up this important win. Imperious home form that has seen Palace lose once at Selhurst all season is the backbone to the teams promotion push. A nine point cushion exists between Palace and seventh place and although the teams around the Eagles have games in hand with Hull City and Leicester still to visit fortress Selhurst the focus should be on automatic promotion not just the Playoffs.  

 

Watford 2 – 2 Crystal Palace: Hornets Flair Matched by Stunning Eagles Fight Back in Friday Night Entertainment Feast!

Goals from Watford’s Armen Abdi and Nathanial Chalobah punished Palace for a slow start with two goals inside the opening quarter of an hour. The slow start for Palace at Vicarage Road showed a degree of naivety in the first half as they failed to learn the lessons from the opening day of the season. Watford remain the only team to win at Selhurst Park this season and their success then as now, was down to their pace and flair on the counter attack. Palace paid too much respect to the foreign imports of Watford’s golden boys as the likes of Vydra and Cassetti controlled the midfield, whilst the defensive understanding between Richards and Moxey in the Palace backline appeared to be critically lacking.

Yet this was a game of two halves and Palace, inspired by a sell out away following, finally warmed up a cold Friday night rewarding the fans with a stunning second half comeback. Palace and Watford are the Championships leading scorers. Palace have scored fifty four goals in thirty one matches, having already comeback to win on five separate occasions this campaign. It should not have been surprising therefore when Palace got back into the match, following a tactical change from Holloway and the introductions of maestro Jonny Williams and the evergreen Kevin Phillips. What is surprising is that the comeback followed the same pattern of Watford’s fight back on the opening day.

A 3 – 2 win back in August saw goals in the eighty eighth and ninetieth minutes for the hornets but on this occasion the boot was on the other foot. Jonny Williams changed the game. He wrestled control of the match away from Watford finally making Palace’s possession pay. Two goals in four minutes saw a repeat of Saturday’s comeback against Charlton. Goals from Ramage and Phillips, (first for the club) wiped out Watford’s advantage in an instance. A half of exhilarating high tempo attacking football made up for a very slow first half. Watford was made to look tired in the second half as Palace took the impetus away from them, finally neutralising their counter attacking threat.

A draw over the whole match was a fair result because of the way Watford started and the way Palace fought back with a stirring second half display. Yet Watford was lucky not to fall to defeat as Zaha became increasingly effective. After Phillips’s equaliser Zaha produced some great footwork to cross for Delaney to nearly notch a winner as the game entered stoppage time. Holloway and the Palace faithful were left wanting more of the teams second half performances from the beginning of matches. Zola alternatively was left stunned and impressed by the Eagles second half display. With fifteen games to go both managers want to have a real push for promotion.

 The race for promotion for both Watford and Palace is certainly on. In the heat of battle the two sides served up one of the best matches in the Championship this season. A point may not be ideal for either side but with Palace at home to Middlesbrough on Saturday they prevented Watford completing a double and in the process kept themselves in touch with the automatic promotion places at the top of the table.

Palace 2 – 1 Charlton Athletic: Murray Comes to Life as King Kev Arrives at the Palace!

A second half brace from Glenn Murray ended a near month long goal drought to bring Palace back to life and take the spoils in this South London Derby. Charlton were beaten after the break as the introduction from the bench of the experienced and stylish Kevin Phillips brought craft and brains to Palace’s play that had previously been hurried and disjointed. Phillips’s link up play got Murray more involved in the game as the Manchester United bound Wilfried Zaha got crosses in at will. Indeed Phillips’s first contribution after coming on was to break up play on the edge of the area to set up Zaha who shot wide.

Murray was now once more effective in front of goal in the Palace attack. The deadline day arrivals of Kevin Phillips and Stephen Dobbie breathed a new second half momentum into Palace’s play and their promotion attempt. Yet it could have been very different Palace started slowly and was lacklustre out of the blocks. Holloway was forced to make changes to the starting line up and this may have helped explain the slow start. The Palace midfield was depleted by injuries as Jedinak’s eye injury and Moritz’s ankle injury presented Alex Marrow the opportunity to form a new partnership with Stuart O’Keefe alongside Jacob Butterfield. Dean Moxey replaced Jonathan Parr at left back from the midweek trip to Huddersfield with Jazz Richards making his home debut at right back.

As a result of the changes the first half was bitty and disjointed as a new look midfield tried to build up an understanding alongside each other. A new defensive partnership in the fullback positions between Moxey and Richards also had to take shape. Fortunately Holloway had new options to turn to on the bench in the shape of Williams, Phillips and Dobbie which meant there was plenty of opportunity to keep creativity in reserve to be introduced when necessary. Alex Marrow continued his rehabilitation from injury and throughout he typified the blood thunder and commitment of a South London derby match. The highlight of the first half from Palace’s viewpoint was a marvellous piece of skill from the energetic Yannick Bolasie. Taking the ball over his shoulder on the turn he produced an instinctive bicycle kick shot that tested the reflexes of Ben Hamer in Charlton’s goal.

After that chance Palace’s first half faded with Charlton taking charge and Julian Speroni being kept busy in the Palace goal. For the second time in a week a former Palace player, this time Ricardo Fuller came back to haunt the Eagles. Scoring on fifteen minutes he gave Charlton a 1 – 0 lead at half time. Charlton had their opportunities to press further ahead in the first half with a number of opportunities wasted. Jackson, Pritchard, and Cort were all guilty of profligacy in front of goal that would be ruthlessly punished by Palace later in the game. The game changed in the second half. Holloway changed the system at the break and the introduction of Phillips and then Dobbie gave greater assurance to the attack as both Bolasie and Butterfield were tiring. The calm assuredness and experience the thirty nine year old Phillips brought to the match was a joy to behold.

Experience in the Tyne and Wear derby must have proved useful for Phillips as he was less than phased by the firecracker atmosphere present in this South London affair. Further experience in midfield through Stephen Dobbie produced a fresh impetus and momentum missing in previous weeks. Dobbie proved the link man in the Palace midfield allowing the team to flow forward a lot more effectively in the second half. Palace was attacking at will with O’Keefe going close with a header from a Zaha cross. Although the intensity levels were much higher from Palace and despite all the pressure on Charlton’s goal they still had to wait seventy five minutes for the breakthrough.

Two goals in four minutes from Glenn Murray saw him end a four game wait for a goal, the longest he had gone without scoring this season. Far from settling for just an equaliser though Murray scored twice to turn the match on its head. Clever movement from the mercurial Phillips showed burgeoning signs of an effective partnership as the two strikers fed off each other and struck up an understanding. Murray capitalised on Phillips clever runs to slot home the equaliser from a Moxey pass. Minutes later Selhurst was bouncing. A cross from Dobbie was not cleared and Murray, controlling Richards pass in one movement took the ball away from Hamer and smashed the ball into the net for the winner. The comeback was complete. Another derby success for Holloway and in the process Palace recorded their first League double over Charlton since the Cup Final year of 1990.

After this important derby victory not just bragging rights were re-established but also momentum into a flagging season following just one win in nine matches. With KG, Garvan, Jedinak (mask et al) all still to return from injuries, the return of Alex Marrow and the bonus of the Zaha loan back until the summer, meant depth has been added to the squad. The intelligence of Kevin Phillips adds a new, unexpected dimension to the Palace attack alongside Murray which could prove more than useful. Both from the bench, as on his debut and from the start of games his hunger and football brain makes him almost guaranteed to score goals and make chances at championship level.

Unbeaten at home since the opening day of this campaign the team to beat us that day, Watford, are the next opponents for Palace in the reverse fixture. Following our second half dismantling of Charlton, victory over Watford would really open up automatic promotion even giving us a shot at the title however unlikely that may seem! All this despite the disappointing trip last midweek to Huddersfield town everything remains up for grabs in terms of promotion in the second half of the season. Murray and ‘Super’ “King” Kev look to have got Palace flying high again with the season back on track!