Ipswich Town
Report: Palace 1-4 Town
By Aston
January 17 2009
Town comprehensively beat Neil Warnock’s Crystal Palace side 4-1 at Selhurst Park this afternoon, but didn’t manage to move up The Championship table. Town made three changes from the team that faced Sheffield Wednesday last week, Pim Balkestein, Dan Harding and Owen Garvan all started in place of Ivan Campo, Moritz Volz and Ben Thatcher.
Neither side created any clear cut chances in the opening 15 minutes or so, although Town players did find them selves offside on a number of occasions.
The first real chance on goal came in the 19th minute, and it found the back of the net. Town were awarded a free-kick for a foul on Pablo Counago, Owen Garvan stepped up to take the kick, sending the ball along the ground and into the net for his 6th goal of the season.
Palace's first chance came from former Town striker Alan Lee headed just wide of the post as Sean Scannell failed to get a touch that would have directed the ball into the net.
Sean Scannell created Palaces second chance in the 27th minute, firing goal wards from the edge of the area, only to be denied by a great save from Richard Wright.
Town doubled their advantage less then a minute later, Pablo Counago evaded the offside trap and darted towards the by-line before pulling the ball back to David Norris who fired the ball home.
Town's two goal cushion only lasted two minutes before Alan Lee scored his third Palace goal of the season when he headed home, although the effort was originally ruled out by the linesman but the referee over ruled his assistant and awarded Palace the goal.
Palace nearly pulled them selves level twice before the half was over, Alan Lee had a header caught on the line by Wright, soon after Paul Ifill wide with his powerful effort.
Danny Butterfield was introduced just after the restart and made his intentions clear with a 20-yard effort that went into the side netting. That was Town's first escape of the second half, the second came when Tommy Miller appeared to bring down Nick Carle from behind in the box, but Palace's claims for a penalty were ignored by the referee.
Palace then had two lucky escapes of their own, an Owen Garvan free-kick bounced wide of the post, a minute later Speroni in the Palace goal had to act fast to deny Jon Walters a goal by diving at his feet.
Palace's luck didn't hold and in the 69th minute Town re-established their two goal lead, Kevin Lisbie, who had only been on the pitch four minutes, was in the right place to slide Jon Walters' low cross past Speroni to make it 3-1.
Palace had a number of chances to set up a grandstand finish, Ifill was blocked by Wright, Kuqi was denied by Wright and later by Harding on the goal line.
Town scored a 4th in the final minute of normal time, Owen Garvan whipped a corner, Gareth McAuley missed the ball but it hit the back of Clint Hill and went it.
Crystal Palace: Speroni, Clyne, Lawrence (Butterfield 46), Fonte, Hill, Derry, Carle, Oster (Djilali 82), Ifill, Scannell (Kuqi 63), Lee.
Subs Not Used: Hills, Danns.
Booked: Ifill.
Goals: Lee 31.
Ipswich: Richard Wright, Bruce, McAuley, Balkestein, Harding, Haynes (Lisbie 65), Norris, Counago (Stead 65), Garvan, Walters (Quinn 90), Miller.
Subs Not Used: Supple, Shumulikoski.
Booked: Miller, McAuley.
Goals: Garvan 19, Norris 28, Lisbie 69, Hill 89 (og).
Attendance: 15,348
Ref: Clive Penton (Sussex).
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17/01/2009 22:22
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