Life is Never Dull When You Go To Hull... Actually It Is!

A cold, damp, midweek away trip to Hull ended goalless on Tuesday night. A dull and lacklustre affair was almost stolen by Palace with the last kick of the match. Yet apart from that Zaha chance which was saved by goalkeeper Stockdale, both sides were wasteful in front of goal. The home side had the best of the possession without being able to score.

Palace was without in form striker Glenn Murray who was suspended following picking up a booking against Leeds United. Brazilian playmaker Andre Moritz remained on the bench with Owen Garvan and Jermaine Easter starting. As a result there was not a lot for the hardy band of travelling Palace fans to get excited about. Indeed were I not staying overnight in Manchester I may have been frustrated by the madness of travelling all the way to Hull for a midweek away fixture. Massive credit should go to the supporters who made the trips to Leeds and Hull in the past week. A point away at this stage of the season in North Lincolnshire/West Yorkshire may prove massively important come the end of the season.

Hull playmaker Elmohamedy was very busy in the first half creating chances for Robert Koren but Hull was wasteful in front of goal. In the second half Aaron Wilbraham replaced Jermaine Easter up front but Palace was still generally missing their recent attacking sparkle. Robbie Brady was lucky to stay on the pitch for Hull when he pulled his man back and he was last man. Much to my and 300 other Palace fans frustrations he escaped with a booking. Had it been down the other end I am sure Palace would have been down to 10 men. The referee bottled it.

Bolasie did not have his best match in a Palace shirt on Tuesday but he clearly tried. He got through one on one with Stockdale but screwed his shot wide. Speroni saved the points for Palace when a strong hand kept out Aaron Mcleans late drive as the final ten minutes proved the most eventful of the game. For all of the possession Hull had during the match, through Bolasie and Zaha, Palace had the best clear cut chances in the game. Apart from the chance for Bolasie, Wilf Zaha could have taken all three points for the Eagles but for a brilliant Stockdale save with the last kick of the match.

On Saturday Palace face that lot from down the A23 in the Selhurst leg of the Derby. Glenn Murray will return from suspension for the derby in what following the Leeds defeat is Ian Holloway’s first big test as Palace manager. It is his first challenge as boss with this team before facing his old team Blackpool in a fortnight. Given the previous managers record in derby matches certain improvement and greater sparkle will be required from the team for Saturdays big match.