Crystal Palace hosted Reading on this family day on Saturday, with both sides on a good run of form of late, this was due to be a close contest and that's how it began.
Both sides applied early pressure, Jem Karacen for The Royals tested Speroni before Wilfried Zaha beat a man or two to get his shot away, which was straight at Reading 'keeper Federici.
Rumours that Dougie Freedman was going to be tempted away by Championship rivals Leicester City, nicknamed The Foxes, were among the forums this week and many were sure they had sent a spy as a stray fox came running onto the pitch, showing a particular interest in youngster Jonathan Williams as he lined up for a corner. Williams' corner hitting the top of the crossbar before going behind for a goal kick.
Academy starlets Zaha and Sean Scannell have made an impeccable start to the season and they combined well for Zaha to pull off a shot that just drifted wide of Federici's goal.
Reading came back at The Eagles; a corner drifting over everyone before it was pulled back to Jem Karacen who once again saw his shot saved by Julian Speroni.
The Eagles did see the ball hit the back of the net in the first half, Johnny Williams' lofted through ball found Glenn Murray who did well to turn the ball in at an acute angle but was ruled offside by the linesman.
The second half continued to be a battle, an early free kick taken my Scannell found Mile Jedinak in the box, who's header was tipped over by Federici. Substitutes for The Royals, Jimmy Kebe and Noel Hunt caused a scare for Palace as Kebe's long cross found Hunt at the back post, his headed effort hitting the crossbar.
Jedinak won yet another header, this time from a corner, but his effort, which was destined for the bottom corner, was cleared off the line.
The Eagles have had a couple of penalties in their last few games and had another claim for this one as Glenn Murray gave the ball to Zaha in the box, the ball was nicked from him and as Jonathan Parr chased the loose ball Federici dived at his feet, flooring the Norwegian international as he grabbed the ball. Screams for a penalty echoed around the ground but referee Woolmer rightly gave a corner.
The last kick, or header as it were, of the game came from a Reading player in the form of Gorkss whose goal was denied for a push in the box on Palace 'keeper Julian Speroni.
The final score was 0-0 but was in no way a fair reflection of the game's events. Two disallowed goals and a penalty shout, as well as a couple of visits from a friendly fox. Crystal Palace move up one place to third, Reading sixteenth.
Team News:
Crystal Palace may see Darren Ambrose rested as the midfielder returned from injury against Southampton but received an injury when scoring the opener, despite being subbed on at the weekend. Lee Hills still remains a long term absentee and midfielders Garvan and Dikcagoi could make cameos as they are expected to reach match fitness.
Portsmouth signed Man City midfielder Abdul Razak on a one-month loan and the midfielder made his debut in their away defeat to high-flying Derby. Ex-Eagle Hayden Mullins says:
On Razak:
"He's a good player with lots of ability - you can see why he's at Manchester City"
Mullins made over 250 appearances for Palace before signing to West Ham in 2003. He also said in a pre-match interview:
On Dougie:
"I know Dougie well, I played with him for many years. He's doing a terrific job."
Preview
Crystal Palace enjoy their third home game in a row on Tuesday night against a struggling Portsmouth that are yet to gain three points from away games. Portsmouth are not only manager-less, but also have the worst away record in the league so far this season, with two draws and an astonishing five losses. The ex-Premier League boys were wounded by the loss of manager Steve Cotterill who left the southern coast outfit to manage an equally struggling Nottingham Forest.
Although Crystal Palace have a record of giving strugglers a boost, they will not be expected to slip up in this one as they are yet to lose a midweek home fixture, not only this season but since March 2010 when they lost to moneybags Leicester City 0-1. Portsmouth on the other hand have not won a Tuesday night away fixture since beating Millwall 1-0 on 19th October 2010 (ironically, this was my eighteenth birthday).
In recent meetings Portsmouth have shown to be a tough fixture for The Eagles when they travel down to Fratton Park but when Selhurst Park is the venue, Palace provide a show and romped to a 4-1 victory in the last meeting, James Vaughan with a hat-trick. The two fixtures either side of that were at Portsmouth's ground and The Eagles lost 1-0 in the league and were beaten on penalties in the Carling Cup last season after holding a 1-1 draw for 120 minutes.
Up until those three fixtures, the two sides had not met since Crystal Palace's most recent stint in the top flight in 2004/05, Portsmouth completing the double over Palace. Pre-dating that season the sides met 52 times and of the total 57 meetings, Crystal Palace have won 22, Pompey 14 with a drawn result on 21 occasions.
My CPFC line-up:
Speroni
Clyne McCarthy Gardner Parr
Wright Jedinak
Zaha Scannell Williams
Murray
Subs: Price, Ramage, Moxey, Garvan, Easter
Portsmouth's last six:
L-W-L-W-L-L
Last time out:
Tuesday 22nd February 2011
Portsmouth 1-0 Crystal Palace
Nugent (65')
Match Facts:
- The two sides have met 57 times in all competitions, Crystal Palace winning 22, Pompey 14.
- Crystal Palace concede an average of 0.71 goals at home, scoring 1.14.
- Pompey score an average of 0.86 goals away from home, conceding 1.71.
- In the last fixture, 4/5 of Crystal Palace's defenders were booked (Clyne, McCarthy, Wright & Moxey)
- Pompey's total away points does not add up to one win yet as they have only gained two draws from their seven away games.
- Crystal Palace have lost one game at home this season, they then went on to beat Middlesbrough in the cup three days later.
My prediction:
Crystal Palace 2-0 Portsmouth
Murray
Scannell
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