Crystal Palace - 0
Blackburn Rovers - 0
This match saw Garry Flitcroft foul Michael Hughes, the free kick being taken by Ben Watson, but the ball flew over the top of the bar. A foul by Wayne Routledge on Flitcroft evened the score, in terms of fouls that is, before Emmerson Boyce put us one ahead with a foul on Brett Emerton. Craig Short was caught offside, and it was left to Gabor Kiraly to take the free kick from deep inside our own half. Andrew Johnson was then offside, leaving Andy Todd to take the free kick, and shortly after Emerton tried a shot that went over the top, causing us little concern.
Jay Bothroyd was guilty of handling the ball, though this was followed by a foul on Paul Dickov by Fitz Hall, with Aki Riihilahti making a good clearance from the resulting free kick. Wayne took yet another free kick for Palace, his cross into the centre being cleared by Emerton, and then Bothroyd got a shot on goal that was well saved by Gabor. Bothroyd tried again from a clearing free kick, but once again Gabor saved the day, whilst at the other end AJ was caught offside, just as it looked as if we might press forward.
Ben tried a shot on goal, which missed the right hand upright, leaving Brad Friedel the simple task of taking a goal kick, and as Barry Ferguson fouled Michael it was left to Ben to fire in the free kick, and the keeper to effect a good save. A good attempt by Bothroyd saw him head the ball goalwards, but his shot just missed the upright, and then Dickov tried his luck, Gabor being equal to the task once again.
Not a lot happened for a while, as the play seemed to run from end to end, constantly interrupted by a series of free kicks and throw-ins, but neither side seemed capable of gaining any advantage. This changed as Michael sent in a long range shot that the keeper did well to hang on to before Lucas Neill saw his attempt punched clear by Gabor, and the returning shot by Bothroyd was again caught by the ever alert keeper.
Dickov found his name as the first in the book, for dissent, though quite a few were to follow somewhat later in the game. Short tried a shot that went wide of the mark, and then from a corner he had another attempt, this time Gabor hanging on to the ball to deny the visitors a late first half lead. With little further action to follow this the sides trooped off to listen to the manager's pep talk, hopefully with a view to scoring a goal or three in the second half.
Unfortunately the second half, as it was played out, was every bit as poor as the fare served up in the first stanza of play, and to say that Iain was disappointed at the end would be a gross understatement.
Ferguson had a shot on goal, but the ball went wide of the post once again, before Dickov tried a header that sailed over the top of the bar. Palace now decided on an attacking substitution, replacing Aki with Wayne Andrews, who was actually making his Premiership debut. Wayne R floated a corner to Palace in, but Flitcroft was on hand to steer the ball to safety.
AJ was caught offside once more, but shortly after he did manage to get a clear shot on goal, the woodwork being the only thing to deny him a well deserved goal. A free kick in a dangerous area saw Steven Reid hit the defensive wall before Emerton had a shot that went wide of the posts once again. Reid made way for David Thompson, and Bothroyd sent in a shot that Gabor had to be quick to pluck out of the air. Palace made another change, this time replacing Joonas Kolkka with Vassilios Lakis, and Wayne R sent in a corner that came to nothing, and Ben tried a shot that went wide again.
Emerton had a shot that also went wide before Wayne A fired a shot in that the keeper did well to push aside. Vassilios headed the ball goalwards, only to see it go agonisingly wide, and Blackburn decided on a second change, this time bringing on Jonathan Stead for Bothroyd. Todd fouled Wayne A, and was booked for his trouble, as Palace made their final change, and in another attacking move brought on Sandor Torghelle for Wayne R. Wayne (A, being the only one left on our side now), saw his shot miss to the left of the upright as Michael got his name in the book, for dissent following a foul on Ferguson.
Thompson was booked for unsporting behaviour following a foul on Wayne, as the referee seemed to be brandishing more and more cards, and just to prove this point cards immediately followed for Sandor, Fitz and a second for Thompson, that saw him leave the pitch for the last few minutes of play. Wayne still had time to get his name in the book too, and Stead tried a shot right at the end that Gabor had little trouble with, proving to us all that he was indeed worthy of the man of the match award.
We now all look forward to our visit to Old Trafford, and whilst we really don't expect that point referred to above, it really would be most welcome following the past couple of games! We could then look forward to a Christmas / New Year period where a few points might just see us move safely clear of the relegation zone. Well, one can live in hope, can't they? One thing is for sure, it has been a great season so far, and we all look forward to what the second half might bring.
Colin Pryce
Crystal Palace: Gabor Kiraly, Emmerson Boyce, Fitz Hall, Tony Popovic, Danny Granville, Wayne Routledge (Sandor Torghelle 82), Ben Watson, Aki Riihilahti (Wayne Andrews 53), Michael Hughes, Joonas Kolkka (Vassilios Lakis 73), Andrew Johnson.
Substitutes not used: Julian Speroni, Mikele Leigertwood.
Blackburn Rovers: Brad Friedel, Lucas Neill, Craig Short, Andy Todd, Dominic Matteo, Steven Reid (David Thompson 71), Garry Flitcroft, Barry Ferguson, Brett Emerton, Paul Dickov, Jay Bothroyd (Jonathan Stead 80).
Substitutes not used: Paul Gallagher, Peter Enckelman, Nils-Eric Johansson.
Attendance: 22,010
Referee: Mr A Wiley