Crystal
Palace’s Christmas Programme continued at a wet and rain sodden City Ground, as
they tried to bounce back from defeat at Cardiff. A goal from Mile Jedinak put Palace
into the lead on Boxing Day in Wales, but goals from Noone and Gunnarson meant Holloway’s
men went home empty handed. The theme of not being able to hold onto a lead
continued at the City Ground as the Eagles were again pegged back twice in
stoppage time at the end of each half. A brace of goals from the Championships
top marksman Glenn Murray, (22 goals) was cancelled out by a firecracker in
first half injury time from Nottingham Forest’s Andy Reid. Then in second half
stoppage time a strike from on loan Saints finisher Billy Sharp meant the game
ended 2 – 2.
Holloway
would have hoped his Palace side could have got back to winning ways after
defeat on Boxing Day by exploiting Forest’s uncertainties. The turmoil surrounding
the City Ground since the Boxing Day dismissal of Sean O’ Driscoll despite a 4 –
2 victory against Leeds United had led to the appointment of Alex Mcleish. It
was unclear how Forest’s players and fans would react so Palace was looking to
exploit the situation to their advantage. Palace started quickly taking the
lead inside ten minutes when Murray slid in to complete a flowing team move.
The move was started in midfield by enigmatic Brazilian Andre Moritz who spread
the ball wide for Moxey to centre and Murray to score. Moritz replaced Garvan
in the starting lineup from the Cardiff match and showed great range of passes
to open up Forest from midfield, yet despite being on top palace could not add
a crucial second goal in the first half.
Typical of
recent matches despite controlling the game for long periods of the half Palace
could not hold onto the lead. Forest upped the tempo and pressed Palace deep in
their own half and in first half injury time Forest’s pressure paid off. Despite
a stoic defensive performance in which Danny Gabbidon, Dean Moxey, and Jedinak
starred with many great blocks and clearances in which they put their bodies on
the line in order to break up play, nothing
could be done about Andy Reid’s blockbuster that meant the sides were level 1 –
1 at the break.
In the
second half again Palace pushed on. Wilfried Zaha had a quiet match yet his flash
shot could have restored Crystal Palace’s lead. The weather conditions were
atrocious but the quality of both teams football was of a high standard. Julian
Speroni was kept busy and the central defensive partnership between Ramage and
Gabbidon looked solid as Forest came into the game. When Jonathan Williams was
introduced midway through the second half Palace switched to a 4-4-2 formation
with Easter replacing Zaha and Moritz coming off. The assured control which the
returning Williams brought to the midfield was a tonic to the travelling fans.
His mazy forward runs combined with Easter to create the opening for Murray to
restore Palace’s lead.
Murray
controlled a looping header over Lee Camp steering the ball into the net on
eighty one minutes to score what appeared to be the winning goal. Yet unfortunately
a familiar recent frailty reoccurred for Holloway’s team as Palace failed to
see out the result. On ninety three minutes Billy Sharp poached an equaliser.
Sharp reacted first to a rebound off the post scoring into an empty net leaving
Speroni stranded helpless in his penalty area. The result gave Alex Mcleish a
point in his first game in charge of Nottingham Forest. The match ended 2 – 2.
An inability
to hold onto a lead at crucial stages dogged Palace’s performance again at the
City Ground. In what were very difficult playing conditions Palace did well to
contain forest although familiar frailties re emerged. They just could not make
the most of their opportunities by taking their chances to finish Forest off
in what was a hard fought physical encounter. Work rate and endeavour was ever present
as usual but unfortunately it was concentration that slipped at vital moments
and this proved costly. Despite a current blip of one win in December we are
still going into the New Year in fourth place a position any supporter would
have bitten their hand off for if offered in August.
Despite
another draw we played Wolverhampton Wanderers on New Year’s Day with our
league position looking healthy and an exciting FA Cup tie against Stoke City
to look forward too next weekend. Happy New Year!
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