Minute-by-Minute Review: West Brom 2 - 0 Palace

(Second game under caretaker manager Keith Millen.)

4'- Couple of early corners for West Brom.
5'- Can barely see the white numbers on Palace's yellow kit.
11'- Guedioura shoots one hard inside the box, straight at the keeper and deflected away.
19'- Guedioura down on the pitch. Hard to tell what was injured. Hasn't moved. Stretcher is out. Has to be subbed.
22'- Puncheon in for Guedioura.
24'- Ribs were the issue for Guedioura.
27'- Quite blustery here at the Hawthorns.
28'- 4th corner already for West Brom.
31'- Berahino comes in for Jones.
35'- Cross headed away by Gabbidon for yet another WBA corner -- their 5th.
39'- Morrison fires one well over the bar, with space.
40'- Sprayed across the face of goal by Puncheon.
42'- Good win by Moxey near the corner flag.
44'- Sloppy passes and possession from both sides in this first half. Berahino curls a shot from just inside the box. Left him too much space. Another late goal -- killer.
45'- 6 minutes of added time due to the injuries.
45'+5- Berahino deflected shot held by Speroni.

51'- Dangerous cross through the face of goal saved by Ward on what would've been a point-blank goal chance.
54'- Bannan delivers the free kick, Jedinak's header goes backwards weakly to the keeper.
56'- Free kick punched away by Speroni, rebound cleared inside the six by Palace.
61'- Puncheon turns and shoots through a crowd. Saved well by Myhill.
62'- Mile optimistic from distance. Deflected wide left.
63'- Corner to Jedinak in space. Headed inches wide of the far post.
65'- Bolasie in for Bannan.
69'- Long ball off Chamakh rolls across the six and almost into the net; tailing wide.
71'- Thomas picks up a yellow for Palace.
72'- Palace struggles to clear off the corner, falls into the hands of Speroni.
73'- A run by Sessegnon; passes off into the edge of the six, game-saving tackle by Moxey before a shot can be released by Long.
74'- West Brom sub: Yacob for Morrison.
79'- Sessegnon to Brunt, spun wide of the post. Gayle comes in for Dikgacoi.
81'- Puncheon's deflected shot goes wide from 20 yards.
83'- Corner. Rising header by McAuley. Headed down and into the net.
86'- Vydra for Sessegnon.
88'- Bolasie's low drive pushed away by Myhill.
90'- Four added minutes.
90'+1- Bolasie to Chamakh; Delaney fails on a weak overhead straight at the keeper.
90'+2- Thomas' cross almost loops in over the keeper. Palmed aside.
90'+3- Bolasie turns and fires wide just inside the box. Chamakh chests one done, Thomas just fires it over.

FINAL: WEST BROM 2 - 0 PALACE

My "Man of the Match":

Mile again. Made some good runs and kept up the pace at times.

Everton comes to Selhurst next Saturday.

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

(First match after Ollie's departure mid-week. Keith Millen is the caretaker boss.)

3'- Sagna to Giroud, heads just over the bar.
8'- Gnabry for Flamini. Tweaked something.
9'- 100 total passes to 17 for the visitors in the early stages.
13'- As expected, Arsenal dominating possession.
14'- A roar as Palace cross midfield with a solid attack for the first time. Bannan loops a header over the bar. Great stop by Delaney on the floor inside the box at the other end.
22'- Speroni bobbles a high ball in the air, but luckily, Gabbidon is fouled for a free kick. Strong winds playing havoc with that one.
25'- Thomas' low shot from 25 yards goes wide left.
28'- Chamakh shoots it right at Szczesny from the top of the arc.
30'- Chamakh's short pass to Guedioura from the arc, again goes right at the keeper. 4-1 shot advantage for Palace.
33'- Free kick comes back to Bannan, curls it just wide from outside the box.
35'- Cazorla sprays it wide from a tight angle.
37'- Free kick finds Delaney, hits off Ramsey for a corner. Dikgacoi's resulting header goes the wrong side of the post.
38'- Speroni gets an arm out on a shot from up close.
39'- Guedioura most optimistic from almost 50 yards out. Not far off, in reality.
40'- Close range free kick headed out by Ward.
41'- Jedinak looped one to Chamakh at the six, but he can't leap high enough for a header.
44'- Giroud shoots one into the turf, handled by Speroni.
45'- One minute added on.

47'- Guedioura's challenge in the box clips Gnabry. Arteta shoots the penalty past the tips of Speroni, to his right. 1-0. Early goals in the half costing Palace again.
50'- Gnabry clips one just wide of the post off Delaney.
52'- Guedioura pivots and blasts the free kick into the wall.
54'- Sagna crosses to Giroud, headed wide from three yards out.
56'- Moxey from an acute angle on the counter shoots one that's held easily by the keeper.
58'- Bolasie on for Thomas. Ramasey breaks the far corner flag. Gives up on fixing it.
61'- Bolasie looking good early. Guedioura tried a bicycle kick; off the mark. Great fan support, as always.
65'- Arteta denies Chamakh a goal-scoring opportunity. Red card. Arsenal down to ten men.
68'- Bolasie tripped up on the edge of the box. No foul given. Looked like he got clipped.
69'- Sub for Arsenal. Wilshere for Gnabry.
72'- Kebe in for Guedioura. Monreal in for Cazorla.
74'- Off a one-two pass, Ward hits the bar after a deflection.
75'- Off the quick corner, Jedinak's screamer saved well off the volley. Nearly equalized.
77'- Gayle on for Bannan.
84'- "Arsenal cannot wait to get out of here." Chamakh chests it down in the box, but can't get a shot away.
87'- Ozil miscues after being found on a wide open cross. Giroud finishes off a run with a header from eight yards out. 2-0.
90'- Four added minutes.

FINAL: PALACE 0 - 2 ARSENAL

My "Man of the Match":

Jedinak. Set up some great opportunities, and nearly scored one from a volley that would've been another "Goal of the Year" contender.

Pleased with the effort from Palace. After the mid-week departure of Ollie, they could've folded up shop, but they hung well for 87 minutes, nearly equalizing a few times. Looking to grow on that effort at West Brom next Saturday.

Minute-by-Minute Review: Palace 1 - 4 Fulham

2'- Gayle on the early break tests Stekelenburg early, forcing a save on his right-hand side.
6'- Campana's free kick from 20 yards deflected off the wall for a corner.
7'- A header by Mariappa finds the net! High and long in the air off of Berbatov, before being tucked away. Nicely done. 1-0.
11'- Fulham a tad frustrated by the ref's whistles.
14'- Bolasie looking good in his first start back. Moving well.
15'- O'Keefe steals and strikes well wide left from distance.
18'- Defense going well. Forcing Fulham to retreat. Berbatov had to move away from Jedinak.
19'- What a strike by Kasami. Chests it down, strikes it across on the volley from an acute cross, angled into the far corner from just inside the box. Masterful. "Goal of the Year" candidate. 1-1.
24'- Definite shift since the Fulham goal. Palace look shaken.
29'- Ward's cross finds Bolasie, but he can't get much on the header in close.
30'- Alarms going off towards the end where Palace is attacking. Upper boxes, looks like.
32'- 59% to 41% possession in Fulham's favor. 6-3 shots to Palace.
33'- Bolasie's drive straight at Stekelenburg.
38'- Those boxes are filling back up after being evacuated.
42'- Cross tried to find Gayle, grabbed by the keeper.
45'- Fulham free kick straight into the wall, then Sidwell blasts the rebound into the top left corner from the top of the arc. Bolasie should kick himself for giving that one up. One added minute.
45'+2- Moxey's drive deflected away for a throw.

Half- Hangeland off for Fulham. Amorebieta replaces him. Thomas comes on for Palace, replacing Campana.

47'- Thomas' cross headed away for a corner.
49'- Speroni kicks it off Berbatov. Saves the bacon with a save off the rebound.
50'- Berbatov heads one in off the corner, in off the post. 3-1.
53'- Rare drop-ball after possession is tied up.
55'- Ball judged to have gone over the line after Senderos knocks it in from three yards. 4-1 now.
56'- Chamakh in for Puncheon.
63'- Long ball for Bent, slid and held on to by Speroni.
65'- Gayle whistled offside after a missed foul call, arguably.
69'- Phillips in for Gayle.
73'- A Chamakh cross deflects away for a corner.
75'- Mile looks absolutely dejected after misplaying a pass for Delaney.
77'- Duff comes in for Bent. Ward shoots high and wide.
80'- O'Keefe shoots and nearly gets it through the keeper.
81'- Richardson yellow card for Fulham.
82'- Free kick by Thomas on the edge of the box flies over.
87'- Nice save by Speroni off of a Kasami blast.
88'- Moxey's screamer from 30 yards out has to be parried away.
90'- Rodallega in for Berbatov. Three added minutes.
90'+2- O'Keefe tries a flick on for Moxey, but it's too far ahead of him.

FINAL: PALACE 1 - 4 FULHAM

My "Man of the Match":

Mariappa. At least we didn't suffer another goose-egg.

(Premier League Facebook Page)

 

So we remain in 19th, having scored six and conceded 17. Oh, and we get to face leaders Arsenal at home early Saturday. Lovely.

Minute-by-Minute Review: Liverpool 3 - 1 Palace

Pre-match- Was Ollie singing a bit of "You'll Never Walk Alone?" Shudder.

3'- Palace fans again loud, and setting smoke flares.
6'- Free kick headed away by Delaney for a corner.
7'- Stuck in our defensive end. Can't get past midfield.
8'- Jerome couldn't direct the close header from Puncheon's cross. Nice movement.
9'- Chamakh half-diving again, a la last week. Might've slipped, though.
10'- Jedinak's free kick blasts against the wall. O'Keefe picks up a yellow.
11'- Moses almost had a dink in from Enrique. Came off his foot and Speroni dives on it.
13'- Another Palace free kick comes to nothing.
14'- Suarez scores. Enrique passes it back into the box, Suarez slips and taps it home. 1-0.
15'- Sturridge shoots low and hard, but Speroni saves well.
17'- Sturridge makes back and forth cutbacks, hits it into the far post and in. Deja vu from last week. Two quick goals, and it almost seems out of reach already.
22'- A Puncheon pun from the commentators. "Holloway wants Palace to throw some punches." "Is that why Puncheon's in there, then?"
24'- Chamakh to O'Keefe. Shot blocked at the edge of the box.
26'- Kebe misses an open net. Then shots are deflected, and the rebound is sent over the bar.
29'- Decent spell of possession for Palace. But no positive results.
30'- Jerome's cross deflected. Sakho almost knocked it in for an own goal.
37'- Moxey fouls, questionably inside the box, but a penalty is given. Looked like the foul was committed outside the 18.
38'- Gerrard slots the penalty home to Speroni's right. 3-0.
39'- Suarez to Moses right on the goal line. Knocks it off the crossbar on a bounce.
43'- Jedinak fires well wide left after O'Keefe's drive was blocked.
45'- Sturridge's low drive saved easily by Speroni. One added minute.
45'+1- Suarez's shot saved well by Speroni.

Half- Gayle and Campana coming on for Jerome and Kebe.

46'- Sakho heads wide off a corner.
49'- Suarez handball. Protests.
51'- 320 minutes without a league goal for Palace.
55'- Chamakh has little power on a header off of a cross.
65'- Puncheon's shot deflected and awkwardly handled by Mignolet.
66'- Luis Alberto for Moses.
67'- Agger for Sakho. Gayle just blasts one inches over the bar.
68'- Bolasie for Chamakh. Good to see him fit again.
76'- Sterling gets a yellow.
77'- Campana's free kick sails home. Gayle claims a touch, and he indeed had a flick off his head from a tight angle. The drought is over! 3-1.
84'- Speroni just gets it away from a rushing Suarez.
85'- Sturridge hits it off the post, but offside was whistled.
88'- Aspas enters for Sturridge.
90'- Four added minutes.
90'+4- Aspas with a yellow.

FINAL: LIVERPOOL 3 - 1 PALACE

My "Man of the Match":

Dwight Gayle. Lone scorer, but continues to impress me, even in a brief outing.

International break next, then Palace hosts Fulham on Monday the 21st.

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

(Missed first 100 seconds of the match due to a DirecTV transmission delay. I don't think I missed much, did I?)

3'- Good to see Ward back in the squad.
4'- Ollie back on the touchline...where he should be.
6'- Header by Southampton. Goalline clearance by Ward.
11'- 71% to 29% possession for the hosts early.
12'- Handball after a deflected shot caroms back. Free kick for Southampton.
13'- Chamakh retying his shoes.
14'- Chamakh passes to Kebe on the edge of the box. Then Bannan has his shot blocked.
17'- S. Davis gets a yellow for tugging Kebe.
23'- Lambert fires over the bar from 15 yards.
25'- Handball by Jedinak.
26'- Lambert's free kick from 20 yards is parried by Speroni.
28'- I dig Ollie's shirt and vest combo. Chamakh gets a yellow for simulation in the box.
31'- You can hear Ollie screaming "Tighter!"
38'- Ward's shot blocked away for a corner.
40'- Good defending by Ward on a break towards goal.
43'- 68% to 32% possession. Still not holding on to the ball.
45'- Wanyama fires wide right from way back. 1 minute added.

47'- Osvaldo at the edge of the box, fakes out Dikgacoi, and slots it home past the right side of Speroni. 1-0.
49'- Lambert's free kick from 25 yards clangs off the near post and in. Falling apart. Two goals in four minutes.
53'- Lambert's volley from the edge of the box goes wide.
55'- Palace fans getting louder even after going two down. S. Davis fires over from inside the box.
57'- Jerome enters for Bannan. Thomas for Gayle.
60'- S. Davis' turn deflected away by Gabbidon for a corner.
67'- Ward-Prowse in for S. Davis.
68'- Mariappa picks up a yellow.
72'- Handball by Jerome. Phillips in for Kebe.
77'- Moxey fires well over the bar from long range. Rodriguez relieves Lambert.
84'- Moxey's shot blocked from the edge of the box, comes to Chamakh, but he's whistled offside.
86'- A shot curls in off the post, poked in by Southampton, but whistled offside. Ramirez replaces Lallana.
89'- The Palace faithful are still in full voice. Ward-Prowse fires over.
90'- Five added minutes.
90'+2- Moxey to Jerome inside the box. Miscues over the bar.

FINAL: SOUTHAMPTON 2 - 0 PALACE

My "Man of the Match":

#2 Joel Ward (Neil Everitt)

Solid defensive work by Ward, including a goal-line clearance early in the match. Palace goalless and winless in their last three league matches. It won't be much easier at Anfield next week.

Minute-by-Minute Review: Palace 0 - 2 Swansea City

Pre-match- Nice hand for club president Peter Morley, who passed away a few days ago.

2'- Michu on the break, inside the box, off Speroni and in. 1-0 already.
3'- Too many nerves and giveaways early on for Palace.
4'- Nearly another goal by Swansea. Flores off the post. Three quick corners in succession.
7'- "[Palace] very jittery at the back." Agreed.
11'- Delaney unhappy after a clean tackle gets called for a free kick against Palace. Ollie in the stands again. Second game of the two-match ban.
15'- First decent buildup of the half for Palace. Cross goes across the face of goal.
21'- Puncheon's 20-yard free kick smacks into the wall. Mariappa sprays a rebound over.
25'- Michu tries a flick inside the six; should've shot it. Would've been a sure goal for Swansea.
28'- Moxey gets a yellow for a late challenge.
30'- Michu flies a one-touch shot just over the bar.
31'- Michu heads one over off a corner.
36'- Little tap-off free kick goes to Guedioura, who spins, but fires right at the keeper.
38'- Volley shot by Rangel curled towards the left post, but beautifully stopped by Speroni.
40'- Mariappa whips a cross in, but Chamakh couldn't get on it inside the six.
45'- One minute of added time.

48'- Vazquez's shot saved from a tight angle. The pass then finds Dyer, who slams home the rebound. 2-0.
50'- Rangel and Chamakh pick up yellow cards.
54'- Davies' power shot almost knocks Speroni off his feet.
56'- Vazquez blasts one over after the ball come back off Gabbidon.
60'- De Guzman in for Vazquez.
61'- Puncheon sprays it wide right.
63'- Puncheon pokes it from outside the box, and away for a corner.
67'- Thomas in for Bannan. Gayle in for Jerome.
71'- Pozuelo in for Dyer. Thomas feeds Gayle, and it deflects wide for a corner.
72'- There's still good vocal support for Palace, despite the deficit.
73'- Chico gets a yellow card.
76'- Shelvey curls one over.
78'- Britton for Canas.
79'- Sloppy giveaway by Speroni. No damage done.
80'- Scuffed shot by Guedioura, harmlessly to the keeper. A long ball finds Michu, who can't lob it over Speroni.
84'- Guedioura looped over to Chamakh. Hits one in the ground to the keeper. Offside was whistled anyway.
87'- Pozuelo shoots straight at Speroni. Michu leaves the ball behind right in front of Speroni.
90'- Five minutes of added time.
90'+2- Gayle to Campana, but he fires over the bar.

FINAL: PALACE 0 - 2 SWANSEA CITY

My "Man of the Match":

#1: Julian Speroni (Neil Everitt)

 

If not for Jules, it could have easily been a three- or four-goal deficit. Difficult game at Southampton next weekend.

Minute-by-Minute Review: Manchester United 2 - 0 Palace

2'- First corner to United.
3'- Speroni shrugs away a bullet from Carrick.
6'- Ollie upstairs in the seats, sneaking directions through his cell phone earpiece.
8'- "Eagles!" chants coming through loud and clear.
9'- Mile almost gives away a penalty against Evra, but thankfully, not given.
10'- Bad giveaway to Rooney is snuffed out. Corner conceded.
16'- Commentary about Fellaini: "I wonder if there's a clause in his contract that says he has to keep that hairstyle?" "You know what happened to Samson after he cut his hair..."
19'- Young booked for diving. Accurate call. Led with his leg and went to ground.
22'- Couple more corners for United.
24'- Good leap by Speroni. Great at taking charge, as always.
28'- Build-ups are rare for Palace at the moment.
29'- Rooney with a long-distance shot. Speroni unfazed.
32'- More shots of Ollie on the phone. "The chairman might not be happy with his phone bill."
36'- Van Persie backheels an Evra pass just to the outside of the net.
39'- RVP rattles the bar after a long Rooney feed.
40'- Gayle's shot/cross sprays across the face of goal.
41'- Rooney can't connect on a leaping header off of a Young cross.
42'- Gayle gets around Ferdinand, but misses the far corner after a sweet cross by Mile.
44'- The Palace fans erupt again from the stands. But, Dikgacoi is sent off for denying a goal-scoring opportunity. Questionable again. Looked just outside the box.
45'+1- Van Persie's penalty goes low and right of Speroni. 1-0.
45'+2- Yellow for Moxey.

49'- Speroni saves Young's drive with powerful hands.
52'- Gayle fires low and well wide from distance.
55'- Chamakh with a yellow. Young then curls one wide of the far post.
59'- Guedioura for Campana.
61'- Evra finds RVP. Skied over the bar.
62'- Fellaini for Anderson. Here comes the hair.
64'- Jerome for Gayle.
67'- Januzaj for Young.
68'- Fellaini's drive palmed away by Speroni.
69'- RVP shoots over off of a corner kick from the edge of the box.
74'- Scramble in the box, pinballed around, but nothing gets on goal from United.
75'- Another debutante. Kebe for Chamakh.
76'- RVP sharp angle shot blocked by Speroni.
79'- Hernandez for RVP.
81'- Rooney's free kick from 20 yards curled low and to the right.
83'- Januzaj moves in and miscues it well wide.
86'- Rooney goes for the "sand wedge" and sends it wide.
87'- "We're Crystal Palace, we stay 'til the end..."
89'- Rooney to Hernandez. Low drive stopped by Speroni.
90'- Four added minutes.
90'+2- "One of the longest monologues in sporting history continues", as Ollie is again pictured on the phone. Palace gets their first corner of the match. Puncheon to Delaney. Sailed over.
90'+4- Jedinak and Gabbidon clear the last cross away.

FINAL: MANCHESTER UNITED 2 - 0 PALACE

My "Man of the Match":

Gayle again. Created the bulk of the scoring opportunities on a day when Palace didn't have a lot to show for offensively. Winnable game against Swansea at home on Sunday.