Palace Punish City

Last updated : 11 September 2005 By Andy Beill
City started the match with a good amount of possession against last season's Premiership relegation victims.

11 minutes in, goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly left his goal exposed after rushing out to defend outside his penalty area and losing the ball, but Palace escaped by conceding only a corner.

City's best chance of the match came midway through the half. Chris Brown, making his debut since signing on loan from Sunderland, held up the ball well in the box before laying it off to captain Nick Barmby. He crashed a first-time shot against the crossbar with Kiraly beaten.

Such a good goalscoring opportunity wouldn't come for City again this afternoon, and Palace showed them how to do it 4 minutes later with their first shot on target. Tom Soares was allowed to run through into the box, evading three sliding tackles before hitting the ball for £2million signing Clinton Morrison to knock in from a yard out.

Early in the second half, Stuart Elliott wasted a header while at the other end Jon Macken shot wide.

Later, the ball set up for Damien Delaney but he put a typical centre back's shot flying into the stand.

City were awarded a free kick right on the edge of the area but substitute Stuart Green's attempt was useless as it sailed over.

Peter Taylor's side had run out of ideas and a sloppy mistake by midfielder John Welsh gifted Palace their second goal to seal the win a minute from time. He was the last man and failed to clear, slipping as he attempted to make contact with the ball and letting England international striker Andrew Johnson go one on one with Boaz Myhill. There was only going to be one outcome in that situation as he buried the ball in the back of the net for 2-0 and the Eagles' fourth successive win.

City line-up (4-4-2): Boaz Myhill; Danny Coles, Leon Cort, Damien Delaney, Roland Edge; Ryan France (Jason Price, 62 mins), John Welsh, Curtis Woodhouse (Kevin Ellison, 76 mins), Stuart Elliott; Nick Barmby (Stuart Green, 62 mins), Chris Brown.
Un-used subs: Matt Duke, Ben Burgess.