Catman

Goals at either end of an impressive first half from Clint Hill and James Scowcroft did the damage and although Jermaine Easter set up a tense finale by pulling one back, the Eagles were able to hold on at Selhurst Park.

Little over a year ago, Neil Warnock and Paul Sturrock were Steel City rivals as managers of Sheffield United and Wednesday respectively.

But on Saturday they came face-to-face with new clubs, both of whom have enjoyed recent surges of form in the Championship.

Warnock's Palace entered the match unbeaten in their past nine league outings, while Argyle made Watford lose their place at the top of the table last week with a last-gasp victory at Vicarage Road.

The Eagles had not lost any of their previous four games at Selhurst Park and they set out looking to keep that record intact.

Ben Watson tested Argyle goalkeeper Romain Larrieu with a seventh-minute free-kick, which was superbly tipped around the post by the Frenchman.

The breakthrough was not far way, however, and it came just a minute later. Mark Hudson stood up a perfect ball from the right edge of the box which found Hill at the back post, who headed home emphatically from close range.

Argyle struggled to find their feet early in the match and offered little in terms of attacking threat.

They found themselves fortunate to stay just a goal down in the 20th minute, when Watson mishit a gilt-edge opportunity six yards from goal and sent his effort ballooning over the crossbar.

Scowcroft was next to try his luck just past the half-hour mark, but Larrieu was on hand to divert his stinging right-foot drive over the bar.

The visitors had Larrieu to thank for keeping them in the game, and he came to rescue again six minutes before the break with another great parry from Tom Soares close-range effort.

But he could do little to stop them going two-down moments before the half-time whistle.

Watson supplied the ball from the left channel and Scowcroft needed just the deftest of touches to send the ball past Larrieu and into the back of the net.

Argyle were a rejuvenated side in the early stages of the second half and they wasted no time in clawing their way back into the game.

Frenchman Nadjim Abdou sent a searching cross to back post and although Easter was at full-stretch he was able to get the connection which diverted the ball past Julian Speroni, and claim his first away goal for Argyle.

Warnock introduced Sean Scannell and David Martin around the hour-mark in an attempt to kill the game off, but it was Clinton Morrison who tested Larrieu with an effort from the edge of box.

At the other end Easter was looking lively and perhaps should have done better with a curling shot that was safely caught by Speroni.

The latter stages closed out in a scrappy manner, with Palace keen to defend their advantage.

It was Palace who came closest to grabbing the game's fourth goal in the dying moments when Danny Butterfield slammed in a long-range piledriver, but Larrieu managed to hold on.

 

Catman

Palace V Coventry
Clinton Morrison netted his 10th Championship goal of the season from 12 yards just two minutes after half-time, before Michael Doyle saw his penalty well saved by Eagles keeper Julian Speroni just after the hour mark.

And the hosts were made to pay when substitute Paul Ifill added a second in the closing stages to wrap up all three points and move Neil Warnock's side closer to the play-off places.

Coventry appeared to be feeling the effects of a heavy Christmas dinner as the visitors flew out of the traps in the opening exchanges.

Sean Scannell and James Scowcroft both forced saves from Sky Blues keeper Andy Marshall in the first five minutes, before Ben Watson also tried his luck from the edge of the penalty area.

The hosts were not helped by an injury to David NcNamee after just nine minutes which saw the right-back replaced by Julian Gray.

Nevertheless, Iain Dowie's side withstood the early barrage and almost took the lead themselves but for quick reactions from Palace keeper Speroni to tip Leon Best's 20-yard effort around a post.

The chance seemed to calm any early nerves for the hosts as they settled into the encounter, yet neither side managed to up the tempo significantly as the half progressed.

Eagles midfielder Ben Watson fired a promising free-kick straight into the Coventry wall just before the half-hour mark, while Mark Hudson headed harmlessly wide just minutes later.

Watson again fired another effort straight at Marshall from distance as the away side began to dominate the closing stages of a half which failed to spark.

Palace continued to apply the pressure after the restart and deservedly got their reward courtesy of Morrison's 47th-minute strike.

Watson delivered an inswinging cross from the left channel which the Republic of Ireland striker did well to latch on to and fire low past Marshall from 12 yards.

Arjan de Zeeuw attempted to drag Coventry back on level terms with a speculative effort which failed to trouble Speroni, before Best headed wide from six yards with the goal at his mercy.

Yet Coventry looked to have been handed a lifeline when Clint Hill was somewhat harshly adjudged to have brought down Best in the area on the hour mark.

But Doyle failed to take advantage of the opportunity as Speroni dived superbly to the bottom right corner to parry his effort to safety.

The Eagles shot stopper was in inspired form and again did well to deny Michael Mifsud's goalbound effort just minutes later.

Dowie introduced Dele Adebola and Kevin Thornton as the game entered the closing stages but the hosts still failed to find their way past a resilient Palace defence.

And it was up to Ifill to secure victory late on from 12 yards as Palace extended Coventry's dismal run to just 1 win in the last 11 meetings between the two sides.

 

Catman

Palace V Sheff U
Scowcroft pounced to hook home Ben Watson's deflected free-kick in the 38th minute to heap more misery on Blades boss Bryan Robson and extend the Londoners' unbeaten run to 12 matches.

Warnock, making his first trip to Bramall Lane since walking out on his hometown club following relegation from the Premier League in May, allowed himself muted celebrations as the Blades crashed to a fourth defeat in their last six Championship matches.

Robson has endured a miserable start to the season since replacing Warnock and has come under increasing pressure from Blades fans in recent weeks as their promotion challenge falters.

But in the second half against Palace, Robson's side were the dominant force and could have taken at least a point if they had converted just one of several clear-cut chances.

Warnock, who spent seven and a half years at Bramall Lane, took them to the semi-finals of both the FA Cup and Carling Cup as well as the Championship play-off final in 2003.

He then achieved his lifetime's ambition when steering United to the Premier League in 2006, but quit soon after the Blades were relegated and is now moulding Palace into genuine promotion challengers.

The Londoners appeared relegation candidates when Warnock was installed as Peter Taylor's successor in October, but Scowcroft's first-half winner has lifted them to within touching distance of the top six.

In a scrappy first 45 minutes United created the better chances, but Rob Hulse and Jon Stead wasted gilt-edged openings, while Scowcroft hooked home his sixth goal of the season seven minutes before the interval.

Paddy Kenny was the first goalkeeper pressed into action when he parried Sean Scannell's angled shot from 12 yards.

Hulse, making his first start for the Blades since breaking his leg at Chelsea last March, then forced a smart reaction save from visiting goalkeeper Julian Speroni, who saved with his legs after the forward was played in by Stead.

Stead should have put the home side ahead in the 27th minute, but after taking a through-ball in his stride, he dragged a low right-footed shot wide.

United defender Phil Bardsley then timed his penalty area challenge on Scannell to perfection at the other end as the Palace teenager shaped to shoot.

But Palace silenced the home crowd in the 38th minute and punished Stead for needlessly handling the ball inside his own half.

Watson floated the resulting free-kick into the Blades area and when the ball deflected off Matt Kilgallon, Scowcroft hooked a left-footed volley beyond Kenny.

The Blades were without leading goalscorer James Beattie, sidelined for at least six weeks after damaging knee ligaments in the Boxing Day draw with Blackpool, while Stead returned alongside Hulse up front in preference to Billy Sharp.

Palace were unchanged from the side that won 2-0 at Coventry on Boxing Day.

United pegged the visitors back in the second half after Robson sent on striker Sharp for Keith Gillespie, with Stead pushed into a wider position on the left. Lee Hendrie replaced Chris Armstrong soon after.

Speroni again used his feet to deny Hulse, who turned neatly to fire in on goal from a tight angle in the 57th minute and did well to keep out Bardsley's swerving rocket, albeit with his chest.

The Blades spurned another golden opening when Hulse slashed at Stead's fine ball across the face of goal at the far post, and the home side became increasingly frantic.

Hulse's overhead kick was easily gathered by Speroni and Sharp volleyed over the crossbar, but boos rang loud around the ground at the final whistle.

 

Catman

Palace V Norwich
The Republic of Ireland striker scored his ninth goal in the last 11 matches to cancel out Darel Russell's opener for the Canaries and extend Palace's unbeaten run to 13 games.

Both sides had shown good form over the festive period and they fought out an even contest in which both showed enough to suggest they will continue their dual ascent of the table in the new year.

Warnock's side started well and James Scowcroft teed up Morrison for a chance which he skied over before Lee Croft tested Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni from the edge of the area in a breathless start.

But Glenn Roeder's side gradually began to control the majority of possession and went ahead in the ninth minute.

A long throw from the right by Jon Otsemobor was headed on by Dion Dublin to Jamie Cureton who cleverly hooked the ball back over his head into Dublin's path.

The veteran was just onside and despite mis-hitting his volley saw the ball run across the six-yard box where Russell was on hand to apply a simple finish.

Dublin then forced Speroni into a save with a powerful header from another good Norwich move before seeing an ambitious lob from 25 yards land on the roof of the net.

The Canaries came within inches of doubling their lead with the first attack of the second half.

Croft easily beat Clint Hill for pace down the right and his excellent cross was met with a firm header by Cureton and Speroni had to be at full stretch to tip it over.

But it was the Eagles who instead found the net in the early stages through Morrison's 11th of the season in the 50th minute.

Gary Doherty gave away a needless free-kick 40 yards from goal by bundling over Scowcroft.

Ben Watson's long ball forward somehow found its way through to the unmarked Morrison and the former Birmingham man cleverly flicked the ball into the bottom corner with the back of his head.

Warnock shifted 17-year-old Sean Scannell inside to make a front three and the visitors struggled to adapt, with Morrison again going close with a snap-shot which was turned over his own crossbar by Jason Shackell.

Roeder responded by dropping Cureton back to the left to match up with Palace and the move almost paid dividends when a fine move involving Cureton, Russell and Matty Pattison ended when Dublin turned a low cross over.

Tom Soares then wasted a good counter-attack by shooting aimlessly wide from 25 yards with Morrison well-placed to his right before Roeder replaced the excellent Croft with Darren Huckerby for the final 15 minutes.

Scowcroft headed straight at David Marshall from a fine Soares cross before substitute Carl Fletcher horribly shanked his volley into the turf as the hosts piled forward in vain search of a winner.

 

Catman

FA Cup 3rd round Crystal P V Watford
The defender headed home Lee Williamson's inswinging corner just before the half-hour mark to break the deadlock, before doubling the home side's advantage midway through the second half in almost identical circumstances.

The Coca-Cola Championship rivals, who have reached a combined total of five FA Cup semi-finals down the years, both enjoyed their fair share of chances but it was the hosts who ended Palace's run of 13 games unbeaten - a record stretching back to Watford's 2-0 league win back in October.

Eagles boss Neil Warnock kept his promise to ring the changes for the clash and named 15-year-old John Bostock in his starting XI - one of five new faces to the side held by Norwich in the Championship on New Year's Day.

Hornets manager Adrian Boothroyd took a different approach, naming the same line-up that comfortably brushed aside Southampton 3-0.

But it was Palace's youngsters who imposed themselves on the tie in the early stages, Sean Scannell first to see his long-range effort fly narrowly wide before Bostock and Ben Watson both tried their luck from distance.

The away side's attacking threat seemed to spark Watford into action and they soon started to dominate affairs, with Darius Henderson forcing a good save from keeper Scott Flinders before seeing his header drift wide.

And the hosts got their reward in the 28th minute courtesy of Shittu's sixth goal of the season - the central defender rising highest to head home Williamson's near-post corner from six yards.

Carl Fletcher attempted to drag Palace back on level terms as the half drew to a close but his effort was well blocked by Jordan Stewart.

Watford flew out of the traps at the start of the second half with Stewart volleying a left-footed effort narrowly wide from 20 yards nine minutes after the restart.

Henderson and Jobi McAnuff also went close for the home side before Warnock opted to make a much-needed change, Victor Moses coming on for Bostock.

But it proved to be to no avail as Shittu found the net again to register his second of the afternoon after 65 minutes.

The Eagles defence failed to learn their lessons from the first half as the defender once more broke free in the penalty area to head home Stewart's inswinging corner from close range and put the tie beyond the visitors.

Warnock's youngsters refused to give up hope and Fletcher volleyed a good chance over the crossbar from 20 yards with 16 minutes remaining.

But it was merely a glimmer of hope as the hosts dominated the closing stages to end a seven-game winless streak at Vicarage Road and leave Hornets fans once again dreaming of an extend run in the FA Cup - last year they were beaten in the semi-finals by Manchester United.

 

Catman

Crystal P V Wolves
In-form Crystal Palace maintained their march up the Coca-Cola Championship table by heaping further misery on stuttering Wolves with a 3-0 win.

The Eagles have swapped a relegation scrap for a promotion push since Neil Warnock took over at Selhurst Park and they produced an impressive display at Molineux to extend their unbeaten run to 14 league games.

In-form striker Clinton Morrison took his tally to 10 goals in his last 12 Championship matches to give Palace the lead and second-half strikes from teenager Sean Scannell and a fine volley from James Scowcroft sealed the points.

It was a familiar story for Mick McCarthy's toothless Wolves side, who have now gone eight league games without a victory and were made to pay for some wasteful finishing by a clinical Palace outfit.

McCarthy handed a debut to new signing Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, who joined the club from rivals Plymouth this week, while Karl Henry returned from suspension.

There was also a debutant in the Palace line-up, with John Halls slotting into the defence following his loan move from Reading.

Eagles boss Neil Warnock recalled midfield duo Tom Soares and Shaun Derry, who were rested for the FA Cup defeat at Watford last weekend.

Both sides struggled to get going in the opening exchanges, but it was Palace who almost broke the deadlock 12 minutes in.

The chance fell to former Ipswich striker Scowcroft, whose goalbound header was tipped over the crossbar by Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey.

Wolves finally got behind the Palace defence 22 minutes in and Henry crossed for Stephen Ward, who failed to hit the target with a header from just six yards out.

With 22 minutes on the clock, the visitors made him pay when Morrison opened the scoring.

The Wolves defence failed to clear their lines and former Birmingham striker Morrison took full advantage, firing a clinical right-foot finish into the bottom-right corner of the net.

Jay Bothroyd tested Julian Speroni with a left-foot strike from just outside the area five minutes before the break, but the Palace goalkeeper made a comfortable save.

To add to McCarthy's woes, he lost on-loan midfielder Darron Gibson to injury just before the interval.

Then just three minutes after the break there was further misery for the Molineux faithful when 17-year-old forward Scannell doubled the visitors' lead.

Halls swung in a a telling cross and the lively Morrison set up Scannell, who made no mistake with a right-foot finish from just six yards out.

Kevin Foley had an opportunity to halve the deficit headed Bothroyd's inviting cross wide of the target.

Andy Keogh was also guilty of wastefully finishing, heading substitute Matt Jarvis' pinpoint cross wide from close range.

Freddy Eastwood had an opportunity to end his goal drought but shot straight at Speroni from just outside the area.

The match was all but ended with 25 minutes remaining when Scowcroft added a third for the Londoners.

There seemed to be no danger when the ball looped towards the former Leicester man, but he produced a magnificent right-foot volley which flew into the top-right corner of the net.

Wales striker Eastwood once again called Speroni into action with a long-range strike, but the Palace keeper was up to the task.

Although Wolves continued to press forward, the damage had already been done.

 

HerefordBaggie

Nothing against Palace but I hope they dont go up as I cannot stand Warnock.

 

Steve Bull

Nor me after sat .

 

__________________
We are Wolves . :drink1:

Catman

Crystal P V Bristol
Clinton Morrison's fortuitous strike and Mark Hudson's late header earned Crystal Palace a 2-0 win over Bristol City at Selhurst Park.
Livewire forward Morrison did not know too much about his 11th goal in 13 games, deflecting in Jamie McAllister's fluffed clearance after six minutes.

But Palace's luck is certainly in at present and Morrison was not complaining as the hosts maintained their remarkable rise up the table.

Skipper Hudson made the points safe towards the end of a bad-tempered second half as the Eagles, who were second from bottom a couple of months ago, cemented their place in the play-off spots.

Manager Neil Warnock also equalled his best-ever unbeaten sequence - 15 games as Notts County boss 17 years ago.

Palace confidently set about the visitors, who kicked off in second place, and they were instantly rewarded when Morrison struck after City defender Jamie McCombe lost out to James Scowcroft as both went for a high ball on the edge of area.

Morrison chased the ball towards goal and McAllister's attempt to clear cannoned off the striker's thigh, past goalkeeper Adriano Basso and into the net.

With City on the back foot, Ben Watson and Scowcroft were given shooting opportunities but both fired wide.

Bustling striker Scowcroft was not giving the City back-line a moment's peace, and another smart turn and shot forced a decent block from Basso.

Tom Soares should have doubled Palace's lead, but he somehow prodded Morrison's cross wide from in front of goal.

City manager Gary Johnson gave a debut to new signing Nick Carle, and although the Australian midfielder was well marshalled by Shaun Derry he did come up with their only two efforts on goal in the first half.

His low drive from the edge of the area was held by Julian Speroni, before a dangerous cross-shot was beaten away by the Palace keeper as the interval approached.

During a second-half punctuated by a string of niggly fouls, Michael McIndoe shot over and Speroni tipped Carle's header behind.

McIndoe should have done better when he scampered clear of John Halls, but he shot wastefully high and wide.

But Palace were threatening on the break, with Clint Hill testing Basso with a long-range effort before Morrison squandered a good chance.

Scowcroft and Ben Watson combined well to tee up the frontman, but he lashed his angled drive into the side-netting.

McCombe put a header narrowly wide with Ivan Sproule unable to get a touch as City pressed, and Lee Johnson sent a free-kick past the post.

At the other end Soares just failed to get on the end of Sean Scannell's clever chip and Watson fired over.

But Palace finally killed the game off five minutes from time when Hudson rose highest to glance Ben Watson's free-kick past Basso and in off the underside of the crossbar.

 

Catman

Crystal P v Leicester
Leicester striker Barry Hayles' late goal ended Crystal Palace's 15-match unbeaten run as the Foxes ran out 1-0 winners at the Walkers Stadium. Matt Oakley's low cross hit Hayles' heel at the far post and looped agonisingly over Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni, before dropping into the far corner.

Leicester were marginally the better side throughout, and Hayles' strike partner Steve Howard wasted two good chances - while Palace's best moment ended in a disallowed goal when Clinton Morrison scored from an offside position.

A terrible pitch played its part as both sides struggled to construct any meaningful attacks.

Neil Warnock has worked miracles at Palace since taking charge, but the play-off hopefuls were no easier on the eye than Ian Holloway's side in a wretched affair.

With neither side fielding an out-and-out winger or a striker capable of getting in behind the defence, the majority of the match was compacted into a congested middle third - where aggression outweighed inspiration.

The home side were just four points above the relegation zone at the start of play but started brightly and should have gone ahead in the ninth minute.

England Under-21s international Joe Mattock swung a searching ball in the direction of Hayles, which Palace left-back Clint Hill could only head to the waiting Howard. The former Derby striker waited for the ball to drop but lashed his volley high over the bar.

Hayles was next to threaten with a well-struck drive from the edge of the area which flew a yard wide of Speroni's right-hand post, before the play descended into an ugly series of throw-ins and free-kicks on a sticky pitch.

A set-piece looked the most likely route to goal, and Palace midfielder Ben Watson almost scored direct from a corner with a devilish delivery which forced on-loan Tottenham goalkeeper Ben Alnwick to punch away from under his bar.

Neither manager could have been happy with the first half. But the hosts started the second period brightly and had a great chance through Hungarian winger Zsolt Laczko in the opening seconds.

Iain Hume drilled in a low cross to the near post, where Laczko had got across his marker. But in keeping with the wretched standard of the match, he produced an air-shot - and the ball rebounded off his standing leg for a goal-kick.

Hume then came within inches of opening the scoring with the first moment of genuine quality.

Howard was fouled by Watson 25 yards from goal, and the Canadian bent a fine free-kick over the wall and into the side-netting - with Speroni well beaten.

Palace finally had the ball in the net in the 65th minute when Morrison turned in Shaun Derry's shot, but the former Republic of Ireland striker was well offside.

Howard then wasted the best chance of the night in the 74th minute.

Again the moment of danger came from a set-piece, and Hume's swirling cross from the left found Howard on the corner of the six-yard box - but again he failed to make a telling connection, and the ball drifted wide.

A goalless draw looked the most likely outcome until substitute Gabor Bori released Oakley down the right, and his low cross cannoned off Hayles and into the net.