Palace succumb in the last minute

Palace were knocked off the top of the league by their opponents Birmingham, after a last minute wonder goal settled an even contest.

Palace, at last, started a game with a bit of purpose about them, although Jobi McAnuff’s 9th minute goal was both unexpected and fortunate. McAnuff cut in from left to the edge of the box where his shot took a big deflection off Bruno N'Gotty and whipped into the net past bamboozled Brum ‘keeper Maik Taylor.

Despite this solid start, Palace then led go of the midfield reins midway through the half and Birmingham created a triumvirate of great chances, two of where excellently saved by Gabor Kiraly, but the midddle one of the three found the net when Nicklas Bendtner equalised in the 22nd-minute after latching on to Tunisian Mehdi Nafti’s.

Palace regained the midfield advantage for the rest of the half and almost went ahead via a poor looping back pass from Raidi Jaidi, forced his keeper into some frantic back-pedalling and a desperate lunge to push the goalbound ball over the bar.

Unlike previous games, Peter Taylor elected to keep Dougie Freedman on the bend at half time, clearly plased with the first half performance and his faith was almost rewarded early in the second half as Leon Cort forced Maik Taylor into another good save from a header.

Despite the possesion being fairly even, with Mark Kennedy having a storming game in a defensive midfield role, Palace were again shot-shy, despite the evetual introduction of Freedman and Clinton Morrissn. Whereas Birmingham created several good chances, only to find Gabor in imperious form.

At the end both teams had chances to win it with two quality moves. Matt Lawrence, making his Palace debut on for an injured Danny Butterfield, send a raking crossfield pass over to McAnuff who played in Morrison, he unselfishly laid the ball back to Mark Kennedy who let fly from the edge of the box, only to see his shot whistle past the upright. It was a stunning move, worthy of a goal.

Birmingham’s chance however, brought greater reward. Right at the death, during the mysterious three minutes of injury time David Dunn, the best player on the pitch by a country mile, produced a magical run, skinning Lawrence and crossed for the unmarked Sebastian Larsson to hit the winner into the far corner, leaving Gabor no chance. The Birmingham bench celebrated like they had won the Cup Final, and in many respects, this game was the closely they’ll get to one this season.

Palace had time to mount one attack whish resulted in a corner, but the whistle went as it was cleared downfield.

Palace Kiraly, Butterfield (Lawrence 66), Cort, Hudson, Granville, McAnuff, Fletcher, Watson (Freedman 64),Kennedy, Soares, Scowcroft (Morrison 85).
Subs Not Used: Flinders, Reich.
Goals: McAnuff 9.

Booked: Hudson

Birmingham Maik Taylor, Kelly, N'Gotty, Jaidi, Sadler,Johnson (Forssell 79), Dunn, Nafti (Larsson 65), McSheffrey,Campbell, Bendtner (Danns 73).
Subs Not Used: Doyle, Tebily.

Booked: Danns.

Goals: Bendtner 23, Larsson 90.

Att: 20,223
Ref: M Jones (Cheshire).

Posted by neil