Crystal Palace played host to rock-bottom Bristol City on Tuesday night. Bristol were without a win in eight games, however Palace do have a record of letting teams who are struggling, over come their best efforts. Doncaster Rovers edged out The Eagles 1-0 at the Keepmoat a few weeks ago and Scunthorpe United were without an away win for quite some time last season, until they managed to put two past Speroni at Selhurst Park in February. So there was definitely a large proportion of the 11,000 fans that came to watch the game that were nervous and edgy come kick off.
Once again, Wilfried Zaha played another fine attacking game and put the pressure on The Robins early with a few step overs to beat his man before sending a shot whizzing past David James' right hand post. Zaha then received a pass from Glenn Murray before setting himself up to test James, forcing a great save before the defenders cleared the danger. The Eagles continued to attack and when a free kick opportunity arose, for once, Ambrose did not step up. Defensive midfielder David Wright stepped forward, forcing James into a low diving save at the near post. Ambrose, however, did get a chance on goal, David James coming out of his penalty area, gifted the ball to Ambrose but his shot at an open goal from far out, was just over the crossbar.
After the break, City seemed to find their feet and Jamal Campbell-Ryce found Damion Stewart who rose well from the corner, his headed effort just wide of the far post. But Palace were soon on the attack again, Sean Scannell darting into the City half, before laying off Wilfried Zaha who beat the keeper, but his goal was ruled out for a much disputed offside. Some say it was Glenn Murray offside and that the linesman jumped to conclusions of where the ball was going to go. Others say Zaha was offside and there is no footage yet that will justify the true story.
The Eagles did eventually get a break through. Jonathan Williams darted into the box and once again there is much dispute over the decision but no real footage to decide whether it was a penalty or not, but Williams went down in the box and a penalty was awarded. Glenn Murray stepped up to claim his fourth of the season, but still held the five on his forehead, maybe on Saturday Glenn? The match finished 1-0, putting Crystal Palace up to fifth, but only by goal difference as they are on equal points with Derby County and Middlesbrough, who fill the two slots above them. Bristol City still prop up the table, with just six points in twelve games.
Team News:
Crystal Palace picked up a few new injuries in the last game, loanee Aleksander Tunchev took a knock, as well as Ambrose (foot) and Ramage (groin) who was subbed just before half time against Bristol. Moxey missed the last two games with the flu but may be fit by Saturday. Of course, Lee Hills is still a long term absentee.
Ipswich Town: Defender Ibrahima Sonko is doubtful for the Town after coming off an hour into their victory over Pompey on Tuesday night "nicking" his hamstring as manager Paul Jewell put it.
Preview:
The Eagles rose to fifth after a narrow victory over bottom side Bristol City in the midweek fixture and will be hoping for a more convincing win over play-off place pals Ipswich Town when they take a trip to Portman Road on Saturday. The Blues sit just below The Eagles as the two sides prop up the play off spots.
Looking back at recent fixtures, will make this game all the more difficult to call. With Ipswich doing the double over Palace last season with both games ending 2-1 to Town and Palace doing the same to them the season before but with one extra goal (3-1 in both games for you non-math whizzes) the only season this game may be judged on is the one that predates these. Ipswich beat Palace 4-1 at Selhurst Park and then The Eagles fought hard for a 1-1 draw at Portman Road. Overall the sides have met in the same league consecutively a total of 12 times, all since Palace's season in the top flight. Crystal Palace have won five of these meetings, as have Ipswich. This means that with both teams doing the double over each other in the past two seasons, beating each other the same amount of times in the last 12 games, being a mere six goals apart in the table, (credit to The Posh for beating Town 7-1 by the way) even the top goalscorers of both clubs are on the same amount, not even that German octopus could call this one!
My CPFC line-up:
Speroni
Clyne McCarthy Gardner Parr
Wright
Zaha Garvan Ambrose
Murray Scannell
Subs: Price, Parsons, Williams, Jedinak, Easter
Ipswich's last six:
W-D-W-W-D-W
Last time out:
Ipswich 2-1 Crystal Palace
Carson (38') McCarthy (73')
Carson (66')
Match Facts:
- Crystal Palace are on an unbeaten run of four, and a clean sheet run of two.
- Ipswich Town are on an unbeaten run of six, and a clean sheet run of one.
- The two sides have played each other twelve times since Palace's relegation to the Championship, Palace 5-5 Ipswich, with two draws.
- Crystal Palace score an average of 1.5 goals away from home, conceding 1.17.
- Ipswich score an average of 1.83 goals at home, conceding 1.33.
- The highest scoring game recorded between the teams was a 4-4 draw on Christmas Eve 1949.
My Prediction:
Ipswich Town 2-2 Crystal Palace
Chopra (2) Scannell
Zaha
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