Brave fightback is not enough for Eagles

Palace went down battling at second placed Derby, but ultimately paid the price for a lack of on-target chances.

After the goalkeepeing calamities of the previous weekend, Peter Taylor picked Julian Speroni – only recently recovered from shingles - ahead of the troubled Scott Flinders and the erratic Argentine went on to have one of his best games for us, depite being reduced to a virtual passenger in the second half, when Palace were camped in the Rams’ half.

Palace had the better of the early play, in what looked like it was going to turn out to be an end-to-end attacking game. Jobi McAnuff with the first shot of the game, beaten away by Stepehn Bywater. Although both teams were wayward in front of goal and Derby eventually finding their stride and matched Palace’s endevour. Midway through the first half, with the game evenly poised, the deadlock was broken by the Rams. Arturo Lupoli – on loan from Arsenal – skinned Matt Lawrence down the left and whipped in a low cross where David Jones – on loan from Man Utd – escaped the attentions of Mark Hudson and slotted home from close range. It was especially harsh on Hudson, who apart from this, did very little wrong in another much improved performance.

Shefki Kuqi, should have done much better with a looping header and doesn’t seem to relish playing with Clinton Morrison, who had no luck, with the ball simply refusing to sit up for a shot when he’d created an opening.

Like the week before, the goal undid Palace and Derby began to show why they are so highly placed in the table with some neat passing and good off-the-ball movement, but they were unable to add to their lead and the second half was a different game altogether.

In short, Palace completely hammered Derby in every department except the one that matters, in front of goal. There were long range shots a-plenty but none which really troubled Bywater and the massive defensive partnership of Darren Moore and Dead Leacock swatted away most of the danger whenever Palace penetrated the box. The introduction of Carl Fletcher at half time, in a much more forward role than previous also seemed to bring out better things in the player.

Palace’s best chances came through a dipping Tom Soares shot that grazed the top of the net, but the killer came in the last few seconds of the game, when, after a scramble, Darren Ward was presented with an open goal from two yards to nod into. Under pressure, he managed to knock his header over when it seemed easier to score.

Spurning that late chance left a bitter taste in the mouths of Palace meagre travelling support as they trudeged out of the ground, knowing that we worth at least a point, but at the same time, pondering where a regular supply of goals might be found. Not amongst the current personnel was the unpalatable opinion.

Palace: Speroni, Lawrence, Ward, Hudson, Granville,Soares, Kennedy, Watson (Fletcher 46), McAnuff (Scowcroft 76),Morrison, Kuqi (Green 75). Subs Not Used: Flinders, Borrowdale.

Booked: Granville, Watson.

Derby: Bywater, Edworthy, Leacock, Moore, Boertien,Oakley (Malcolm 59), Jones, Seth Johnson (Michael Johnson 87),Barnes, Stead, Lupoli (Smith 71). Subs Not Used: Peschisolido, Jackson.

Booked: Edworthy.

Goals: Jones 22.

Att: 23,875
Ref: J Moss (West Yorkshire).


Posted by neil