Even an easy win isn't enough for the boo-boys

Palace swept aside a pitiful Leicester outfit without ever really needing to get out of first gear themselves.

This was over as a contest in the 14th minute when Tom Soares embarked on a strong run down the right flank and found Fletcher with a neat pass on the edge of the 18-yard box. He swivelled and hit a scuffy shot which Paul Henderson appeared to have covered, but somehow allowed the ball to creep over his hand and into the net.

Four minutes later it should have been two when Dougie Freedman went on a mazy run and thrashed a left-footed shot narrowly wide of Henderson's left-hand post. Despite his good scoring run, Clinton Morrison was again found wanting in front of goal missing two easy chances, before getting in the way of a goalbound Leon Cort header early in the second half.

Moments later a wicked inswinging corner from Ben Watson found Mark Hudson, whose header was blocked by Patrick Kisnorbo. On the hour, Leicetser managed their first chance a header that flashed well wide, it took them another ten minutes to get a chance on target, which Gabor Kiraly – a spectator for most of this game – did well to grasp.

Palace saw James Scowcroft test Henderso with a close range header and Freedman might have done much better with a chance than he skied over the bar.

The game wore on Leicester had a little flurry of attacking activity, but simply did not threaten and palace re-exerted control in the last few minutes with a sesiion of keep-ball that infuriated some sections of the home support, who felt we should be going for the jugular of such insipid opposition.

As it happens a merited second goal did come in the dying moments, but this failed to pacify the restless elements. Tom Soares forced a panicked handball for out first penalty of the season, only for psrts of the crowd to express all-too-audible horror that Ben Watson was being the job. He sensibly ignored the boos and slotted home a crisp, low drive. The players were visibly upset and celebarted amongst themselves, Soares – who had also just suffered a negative reaction to his Man of the Match award – clearly made his feelings known towards the Holmesdale and, to be fair, he had every right to. It was simply inexusable.

The win had Peter Taylor talking hopefully about the Play Offs, but in truth we are unlikely to be facing such poor opposition every week. And with this level of disunity on display in the stands, it would be difficult to envisage any assistance coming from that direction.

Palace: Kiraly, Lawrence, Hudson, Cort, Borrowdale,Soares, Fletcher, Watson, Scowcroft, Freedman (Hughes 73),Morrison (Grabban 78). Subs Not Used: Speroni, Butterfield, Martin.

Booked: Borrowdale.

Goals: Fletcher 14, Watson 90 pen.

Leicester: Henderson, Kisnorbo, McAuley, Stearman,Johansson (Kenton 90), Hughes, Johnson (Yeates 71), Jarrett,Porter, Hume, Horsfield (Hammond 63). Subs Not Used: Logan, Tiatto.

Booked: Hume.

Att: 16,969
Ref: P Armstrong (Berkshire).


Posted by neil