Minute-by-Minute Review: Manchester City 1 - 0 Palace

5'- Dzeko sprays one wide right across the face of goal.
6'- Commentators on the crowd: "It's like being in a library."
7'- Fernandinho shoots and deflects off Gabbidon for a corner.
11'- Silva fires inches wide to the left from the top of the arc.
15'- Bolasie fires wide left from 20 yards.
20'- Milner just misses over the bar from the 18.
22'- Dzeko's headed cross comes off Delaney for a corner.
23'- Kompany's low drive from 25 yards is held by Speroni.
24'- 77% to 23% possession. Surprised we've had it that long. Milner's shot deflected inches wide of the far post for a corner.
28'- Bolasie hits one off center, saved by Hart. At the other end, Silva gets a long pass and fires wide of the near post. Header off the resulting corner saved easily by Jules.
29'- Parr's sends a low cross to Jerome, but Hart meets him in the nick of time, with Jerome bumping into the keeper.
32'- Hart and Jerome still down on the pitch. Hart bruised under the eye, while Jerome might have a knee complaint.
35'- Chamakh replaces the injured Jerome.
40'- Silva's attempt right near the endline flies high and wide.
43'- The natives are restless at the Etihad.
44'- Fernandinho fires just over the bar from 15 yards.
45'- Five added minutes.
45'+2- Fernandinho's header is tipped over by Jules off Milner's cross.
45'+4- A couple of great blocks from the backline. Excellent first half.

47'- Garcia's off-balance header off a corner goes over.
50'- Puncheon forces Hart into a diving save with a slight curler from 25 yards out.
51'- Chamakh's header is inches wide off of Bannan's corner.
55'- Nasri is in for Fernandinho. Negredo replaces Boyata.
62'- Puncheon with space, curls one just wide left. Another warning shot.
63'- Puncheon flicks one on to Bannan, but is cleared at the last moment for a throw.
64'- Jedinak slides in a shot that's tipped away by Hart.
66'- Dzeko puts one in to the corner of the net from the penalty spot area after receiving a nice cross. 1-0.
67'- Ward's long drive tipped inches wide by Hart.
68'- Header right into the ground by Ward off the corner.
74'- Kolarov in for Milner.
76'- Williams is in for Bolasie.
78'- Dzeko's header easily stopped by Speroni off Kolarov's cross. 2nd half possession numbers are 80% to 20%.
81'- A yellow to Delaney for a high-footed challenge. Gayle in for Bannan.
83'- Man City playing keep-away, as they have for most of the game.
85'- Puncheon drives one, but comes off of Gayle for a goal kick.
87'- Possession is 78% to 22% overall.
89'- Silva booked for a hard tackle on Williams.
90'- Dzeko's tight-angle header hits the roof of the net after a cross from Navas. Three added minutes.

FINAL: MANCHESTER CITY 1 - 0 PALACE

My "Man of the Match":

Joel Ward. Played well again in defense, and had the best opportunity to equalize when he misplayed his header in open space near the six-yard box with 20 minutes to go.

Fantastic effort by the boys today. 0-1 against the best home side is nothing to hang your heads about. Well done.

At the halfway point, Palace sits 17th by way of goal difference over Fulham. The new year begins with a big home clash against Norwich.

Minute-by-Minute Review: Aston Villa 0 - 1 Palace

3'- Cross from Puncheon headed up in the air by Bolasie; straight to Guzan.
13'- 82% to 18% possession. Same old story.
17'- Puncheon skews the long shot well wide. Bannan set up the brilliant initial pass to Jerome.
24'- Not too many quality opportunities on goal halfway through this first half.
25'- Couple of recent crosses by Villa go straight to Speroni. Parr crosses to Puncheon, headed weakly straight at Guzan.
27'- There's a Villa kid wearing a turkey hat in the stands.
29'- Mile with a bizarre slip at the edge of the box, trying to find Bannan instead of shooting.
35'- Yellow card for Baker after fouling Jerome.
37'- Bolasie's shot from the edge deflected wide for a corner. Bannan gets booked for kicking the ball away after a weak corner fails.
39'- Kozak hits a weak header off a free kick, held easily by Speroni.
41'- 67% to 33% possession. Old news.
44'- Delph skies one that miscued into the crowd.
45'- Two added minutes.
45'+2- El Ahmadi skies one over, but blocked for a corner.
45'+3- Corner headed inches over. It was cleared over by Mariappa.

48'- Puncheon stumbles, and eventually gets a shot away after a Bolasie cross. Saved well by Guzan.
50'- Delaney skies a header off Bannan's corner.
54'- Delph to Weimann, who forces a save out of Speroni.
55'- Bannan's shot saved onto the post by Guzan. End-to-end action now. More action in these first ten minutes than in the whole of the first half.
58'- Delaney hacks a weak shot into the ground.
59'- Agbonlahor with a long run, but a weak shot is right at Speroni.
60'- Weimann fires over the bar from 15 yards.
64'- Puncheon's low drive saved by Guzan. Shout for a penalty on a sliding Bannan.
65'- Williams in for Puncheon.
67'- Bacuna in for Luna. Jerome gets a yellow for encroaching on the free kick.
72'- Yellow to El Ahmadi. Gayle replaces Jerome.
76'- Bowery in for Kozak.
83'- Ward curls a shot from 20 yards onto the roof of the net.
85'- Heard a Villa fan scream, "Where's the movement?"
86'- Moxey in for Bannan. Will we ever get a full 90 from him?
87'- Tonev for Weimann.
89'- Bowery's header tipped over by Jules.
90'- Three added minutes.
90'+2- Gayle curls a stunner into the right corner from 20 yards. Absolute brilliance!

FINAL: ASTON VILLA 0 - 1 PALACE

My "Man of the Match":

Gayle is the magic man. When we arguably should have had three points earlier in the match, Gayle steals it with a stunner in stoppage time. Off to Man City for an uphill battle on Saturday.

 (Getty Images)

Minute-by-Minute Review: Palace 0 - 3 Newcastle

8'- Puncheon's long drive blocked; doesn't get through on goal.
9'- Heavy rain and wind making it hard to sustain any real attack.
10'- Anita crosses to Gouffran, but Mariappa heads away straight to a waiting Speroni.
13'- Santon shoots well wide from 35 yards out.
15'- Bannan curls the free kick to the top right corner, but Krul stretches up to make the stop.
19'- Gabbidon just gets there in time to turn away a dangerous cross to the box. Debuchy heads the resulting corner just across the face of goal.
25'- Torrents of rain continue to bear down on Selhurst. Cabaye receives a pass inside the box and skips one in past Delaney's legs.
30'- Jerome receives one from Chamakh; turns and forces a sliding foot save by Krul.
31'- Corner came off a Newcastle defender and turned off the line.
32'- Good pressure from Palace. Several corners in the last minute. Jedinak's looping header held easily by Krul.
39'- Own goal by Gabbidon, as he tried to clear it behind.
42'- Cabaye's tight angle shot held against the post by Jules.
45'- One added minute.

Half- Parr in for Moxey, Bolasie replaces Bannan.

48'- Two quick corners for Newcastle. No damage done.
51'- Puncheon's shot blocked. Cry for handball not awarded.
56'- Cabaye's swerving shot forces Jules into a fingertip save, reaching back to get it.
63'- Chamakh heads wide off Mariappa's cross.
64'- Tiote yellow card, after tripping Ward.
67'- Coloccini gets a yellow after a high foot to Chamakh.
68'- Jerome fires over the bar after Puncheon's free kick and Jedinak's header sets up a beautiful opportunity. Mishit from close range.
70'- Cabaye curls one just wide of the far post.
74'- Sting is in the crowd at Selhurst.
75'- Ameobi in for Remy.
77'- Gayle replaces Jerome.
78'- Cabaye saved by Speroni after ball rebounded off the ref.
79'- Ben Arfa replaces Cabaye.
80'- Gouffran crashes one against the post. Ben Arfa blocked by Speroni after the ball was barely kept in play.
81'- Santon's shot is deflected away for a corner.
83'- Chamakh gets a yellow. Misses the next match (five cards).
85'- Parr gives up a penalty after fouling Ameobi.
86'- Ben Arfa fires to Speroni's left. Jules gets a touch on it, but it finds the net with pace.
90'- Delaney's low drive held easily by Krul. Four added minutes.
90'+2- Ward's looping header off a Puncheon free kick is headed onto the roof of the net.

FINAL: PALACE 0 - 3 NEWCASTLE

My "Man of the Match":

Not much quality to choose from in the poorest performance in the Pulis reign. I'll go for Puncheon, who set up a couple of good opportunities, and had a couple of chances blocked. Have to look for redemption against an Aston Villa side on Boxing Day.

Minute-by-Minute Review: Chelsea 2 - 1 Palace

Pre-match- The "Special One" escorts Pulis through the tunnel. Looking chummy together.

2'- Palace with a good possession early. Chelsea hasn't won it back yet.
3'- Jerome intercepts, nutmegs Luiz, but can't get through Terry on a nice move.
7'- Palace support wonderful as always. To the Chelsea fans: "Is this a library?"
9'- Quick Chelsea free kick challenged well by Dikgacoi for a corner.
11'- Chelsea's giving away the ball a handful of times early on.
15'- Ramires' half volley held easily by Speroni.
16'- Willian's shot deflected off the post by Speroni, rebounds back to Torres, who slots it in.
21'- Ivanovic sprays one just wide left across the face of goal.
26'- O'Keefe in for Dikgacoi, who's picked up a knock.
27'- Essien shoots wide left from 25 yards out.
28'- Jerome from far out, routine save by Cech.
29'- Ward sets up Chamakh, who slots home the one-timer from inside the box! Something from nothing!

(Paul Gilham)

 

35'- Ramires blasts it into the top left corner from the edge of the arc.

41'- Willian's shot deflected into the hands of Speroni after Mariappa lost possession near the endline.

43'- Chamakh gets a yellow after fouling Essien.

45'- Two added minutes.

49'- Mata's shot blocked and pinballs to Speroni. Mata's second try moments later...smashes it over.

50'- Chelsea running all over the defense now.

51'- Bolasie replaces Bannan. Jerome picks up an interception, but fires high.
54'- Puncheon turns inside the box, and forces a save out of Cech.
58'- Essien yellow. Puncheon's free kick curled in, headed down by Delaney, but into the arms of Cech.
62'- Oscar in for Mata.
63'- Puncheon crosses to Bolasie. Free headed over and wide of goal.
69'- Ivanovic yellow card.
70'- Puncheon with another curled free kick. Delaney heads it straight over.
75'- Essien shoots, blocked to Ba, who is saved well at close range by Speroni. However, the flag was already up for offside.
77'- O'Keefe in close after Jerome's pass. The fingers of Cech along with a Terry clear off the line keep out a close shot. Resulting scramble can't be slotted home.
78'- Delaney with another header off a corner, but misses on the wrong side of the near post.
82'- Schurrle replaces Willian.
84'- Schurrle over the bar. Ba replaces Torres.
86'- Ramires fluffs it after a bad giveaway by Palace. Jules did well to scramble on it.
88'- Gayle in for Chamakh. Speroni gets two unbelievable saves on Schurrle and Ba, from point-blank range. Standing on his head late.
90'- Jerome flicks one across the face after Delaney worked hard to keep it. Four minutes to go.
90'+2- Puncheon's high cross is straight down to Cech.

FINAL: CHELSEA 2 - 1 PALACE

My "Man of the Match":

Slight edge to Chamakh for the goal and the way he's improved so well over the last three games. Honorable mentions to Jules for keeping us in it during the dying minutes, and to Delaney for the near misses he had up the pitch.

Nearly had a point out of this one. Terrific effort. Newcastle comes to Selhurst on Saturday.

Minute-by-Minute Review: Palace 2 - 0 Cardiff

Pre-match- A minute's applause in remembrance of Nelson Mandela, who passed away Thursday. They're chanting his name at Selhurst.

2'- Campbell's free header off a cross is saved well by Speroni.
4'- Bannan's free kick curls in, but no one gets a head on it as it swirls wide left.
6'- Puncheon keeps the ball on the endline and crosses to Jerome, who heads it in from the 6! Almost a mirror image of Chamakh's goal on Tuesday. 1-nil!
16'- Bannan miscues and sprays it wide left.
18'- Bannan's optimistic effort from the corner of the box, goes high and wide.
22'- Just 40% possession? Seems like it should be more than that.
24'- Long pass by KG to Jerome. But, his cross just missed on the far post.
25'- Mariappa replaces an ailing Moxey.
27'- Puncheon miscues it wide right. Great pass from Mile to set it up.
28'- Medel fires wide right.
37'- Free kick near the edge of the box is dealt with well by the Palace defense.
42'- One-two pass between Mile and Ward; Ward's shot blocked away for a corner.
45'- Two added minutes.

Half- Noone is in for Cowie.

47'- Puncheon's low, long drive goes wide right.
54'- Bannan's free kick curled in to Chamakh, whose awkward header is across the face of goal.
56'- Jerome's shot takes a touch on the way through, and almost squeezes inside the post. It's tipped away for a corner.
58'- Chamakh makes it 2-0! The ball can't get cleared properly, and falls right to Chamakh, who slots it home from 15 yards out.

(Jamie McDonald)

60'- Odemwingie replaces Kim.
61'- Noone volleys one in close, but wide right.
65'- Odemwingie heads one just wide off the cross, from point-blank range.
68'- Cornelius in for Campbell.
69'- Jerome's drive tipped away.
70'- Header near the line is judged not to have crossed the line, first off a Dikgacoi header, and then a flick by Jerome.
72'- Delaney's header goes over off a corner.
73'- Palace up to 46% possession. Still seems low to me.
75'- Cornelius shoots one across the face.
76'- Bannan's shot looks to be deflected, but no corner given. Mutch's shot then blocked by Speroni.
80'- Jerome misses wide left.
81'- Puncheon shoots straight at Marshall.
84'- O'Keefe in for Bannan.
88'- Puncheon's cross is hard against the line, and headed over the bar by the defending Turner.
90'- Four added minutes.
90'+2- Mutch heads wide after a nice delivery.

FINAL: PALACE 2 - 0 CARDIFF

My "Man of the Match":

Chamakh. Scored a great goal and really had a resurgence today. Got to a lot of balls (and won them), passed well. Solid performance.

Six points in the last two games puts Palace in 18th, still in the relegation zone, but only on goal difference, with a tough stretch ahead. Chelsea are the opponents Saturday at Stamford Bridge.

Minute-by-Minute Review: Palace 1 - 0 West Ham

Pre-match- A jog in for the gaffer in his first home match as boss.

1'- Jon Champion says, "[Pulis] wears the club shop."
6'- Ward's tight angle cross goes right to the keeper.
9'- Moxey just gets a clearance away after a panic in the box.
10'- Cross into the box headed across the face of goal by West Ham, but whistled for offside.
13'- "R. Rat." Just looks funny on the back of the jersey.
14'- Bannan curls a shot wide left from the edge of the 18.
15'- Puncheon's long-range shot is easily held.
17'- Rat goes way wide and right on a shot from the box.
23'- West Ham straying offside a few times in the last few minutes.
27'- Too many balls given away in midfield.
31'- Delaney with a yellow. Then, a chipped free kick finds Nolan, who can only bounce it into the turf.
35'- Cole crosses across the face looking for Downing, but it's too far for him.
38'- Diame heads the cross over the bar.
40'- Palace's passing accuracy: 63%. Says it all.
41'- Ward's long drive blocked aside for a corner.
42'- Bannan crossed to Chamakh, who flicks it with the head and goes in from the edge of the six-yard box! 1-0 Palace.

(Ian Tuttle)

45'- Two added minutes. Champion asks Mark Bright, "Cup of tea at the Bright lounge? / "It'll be packed."

45'+1- Downing's shot blocked by Delaney for a corner.

50'- Diamy fires well over.

51'- Long pass ahead to Jerome. Pass from Chamakh to Puncheon, who shoots and gets deflected and tipped away for a corner.

52'- Bannan's cross off a rebounded corner headed over by Dikgacoi. Jerome moments later breaks through, 1 v 1, but is stopped. The loose ball can't be corralled.

58'- Double change for West Ham. Maiga for C. Cole. J. Cole in for Nolan.

63'- Flag goes up for a shirt-pull on Chamakh before West Ham slots one in. No goal.

66'- Kebe replaces Puncheon. Possible back complaint.

67'- Tomkins with a yellow, for the foul on Jerome.

68'- Bannan's free kick to Jedinak across the face of goal. Kebe slots it in, but another flag, this time for offside, is raised.

71'- Speroni calling the ref over for a problem with his net. Came off of the clips. Ground staff is in straight away.

74'- Downing's curling free kick held well by a diving Jules.

76'- Morrison's shot goes wide left off a half-volley.

77'- Dikgacoi's rising shot is right in the center of the goal, held by Jaaskelainen.

78'- McCarthy in for Rat.

82'- O'Keefe replaces Bannan.

85'- Williams for Chamakh.

90'- Five added minutes!? Why?

90'+3- Kebe has the loose ball, but fires over the bar with the keeper straying out.

Post-match- Ravel gets a yellow after kicking the ball into a Palace player and shoving Ward in the face. Classless.

FINAL: PALACE 1 - 0 WEST HAM

My "Man of the Match":

Bannan. Continues to impress. Set up the goal and had some good challenges on the backline. Pulis makes it 1-for-1 at home, with another Selhurst date to come on Saturday against Cardiff.