KG Shines Goal Scorers Light Through Red Mist of Forest Yet no Trees Get Torn Up in Draw!

Forests indiscipline during the second half probably cost them victory at Selhurst Park. At the start of the evening Freedman made three changes from the victory over Charlton at the Valley. Goal scoring hero KG Dikgacoi kept his place with Williams replacing Bolassi to allow for the systems of wingers to continue. Changes at the back meant Ward returned for Darcy Blake and Moxey come in for Parr at left back all of whom that dropped out started on the bench.

A cold autumnal night greeted the players and the atmosphere although fair with over 14,000 in attendance seemed slightly anticlimactic following as it did the night of colour and noise at the Valley so continental in fashion. The empty spaces in the Arthur Waite and the Main stand did not really help but a full and noisy Holmesdale Road end more than made up for this. ‘NUMBER ONE in SOUTH LONDON’ ringing around the ground. Indeed for the first time this season Palace seemed comfortable in their home surroundings intent on making the cold midweek South London environment play out to their advantage old school style. Similar to the Neil Warnock era or going back even further Trevor Francis’s period in charge.

Palace started on fire KG and Mile Jedinak really got to grips with the midfield allowing Zaha and Williams to attack with pace down the flanks fizzing balls across the box for Murray to nearly connect with. The South African KG Dikgacoi would again have a busy night. His status already raised to hero thanks to his goal against Charlton would be raised to goal machine by notching his fourth goal of the season already. In fact he has nearly matched his entire tally of the previous campaign, the only downside he may wake up a headache more on that later.

The referee set the tone for the match early on, allowing challenges slide from both sides certainly worthy of a free kick if not a card. In the second half this early leniency seemed to frustrate and get to forest as the referee tightened up the discipline and gave more decisions. I noticed from the stand at half time forest players talking to the referee before the start of the second half obviously annoyed at something. Within fifeteen minutes this would transpire to a total loss of discipline as on 63 minutes Adlene Guedioura saw red for retaliating at KGs head out of frustration over not getting a free kick. KG would later go off with a concussion but not before again putting Palace into the lead.

On 50 minutes a beautifully curled trajectory on an Owen Garvan corner allowed the Jedi(nak) to pressurise the keeper, Camp, and leaping like a salmon at the back post KG headed the ball back past the goalkeeper and the ball nestled neatly low inside the far post. Guedioura’s red card should have been curtains for Forest and had Zaha scored off a Murray knock down it would have been. Despite a fantastic performance from Williams on the wing in his first start of the season and able support from Bolassi as a second half substitute for Williams Palace’s inability to convert another chance meant Forest were always in the game.

So it proved despite a good all round performance deserving of a victory Palace were pegged back. On 81 minutes Dexter Blackstock was played in off a slide rule pass from the edge of the area to beat the on rushing Speroni to the ball sliding it into an empty net. Fair credit to the Forest fans who had been expertly deployed en masse on coaches from Nottingham with almost military precision for a Tuesday night. The goal was greeted with relief rather than exuberant celebrations or that is how I picked it as I ear wigged Forest fans conversations as I left the cold but beautiful old ground behind me.

Palace were unfortunate not to win showing great attacking creativity with the addition of Bolassi and Williams to the squad a sign the manager is developing a system using wingers which was also deployed successfully in the match against Charlton. Although we did not win a good lesson key to all football games had been taken on board since Watford at Selhurst on opening day. Keep the door closed and if you are unfortunate enough not to win and for Palace’s endeavour they were unfortunate make sure you do not lose it and in this case palace more than deserved the point. Job done lads your learning! Well done!

The next game up is Cardiff City and defeat on penalties in the League Cup Semi Final still hurts hence the drop off in my writing post February 2012. I disappeared to an ice rock to gather my sorrows (Canada to visit mum and dad) and as we know the season tailed off. Now is a new season Cardiff now play in red and the Doog is building a new squad. Let us all hope I can put pen to paper on a resounding victory and performance as we put our blue days well and truly behind us!