Minute-by-Minute Review: Norwich 1 - 0 Palace

(1st match for new manager Tony Pulis.)

1'- Norwich corner is headed wide.
6'- Jerome's low, weak shot is held.
9'- Norwich's overhead kick blasts on the bounce off the crossbar.
11'- Redmond strikes from a tight angle, palmed away by Speroni.
27'- Jerome with a good move near the corner flag, but Puncheon gets blocked on the shot inside the box.
30'- Hooper scores after a back-and-forth passing play inside the box from eight yards out.
33'- Chamakh passes to Jerome, who misses the kick, while Bannan fires off the bar after caroming off the goalkeeper.
39'- Jedinak and Dikgacoi's shots blocked by the Norwich defense.
45'- One added minute.
(Had to watch the online stream for the first half...wasn't receiving the feed on the satellite. Finally corrected the situation at halftime.)

46'- Puncheon runs on a break, but the shot is blocked right off the get-go.
48'- Mile shoots off the side of his foot across the face of goal.
50'- Redmond fires high and wide after some good passing play.
52'- Ward's cross floats in, but Ruddy grabs on before Chamakh knocks into him innocently.
56'- A better possession spell for Palace in this half. Pressing Norwich defense well.
61'- Hoolahan strikes straight at Speroni.
63'- Mile gets a yellow.
64'- Moxey crosses low, almost an own goal, cleared by Bassong over the bar. Delaney heads the corner over the bar, deflecting off his shoulder.
72'- Dikgacoi's cross grabbed at the last moment with two Palace players running on to it.
73'- Williams in for Bannan.
76'- Kebe for Puncheon.
79'- Johnson replaces Hoolahan.
80'- Gayle in for Chamakh.
81'- Becchio for Elmander.
82'- Martin booked.
83'- Kebe fires wide right off the arrival of the free kick.
86'- Gayle with a yellow.
88'- Deflected ball in the box off a throw, shot bounces to Jerome, no pace on the shot, safely into Ruddy's hands.
90'- Four added minutes.
90'+1- Whittaker replaces Hooper.
90'+4- A scramble in the box after a free kick. Players go down, no call. Gayle appeared to have been held.

FINAL: NORWICH 1 - 0 PALACE

My "Man of the Match":

Joel Ward. A solid defensive outing. Short turnaround for the Eagles, as they face another bottom-half side at home in West Ham on Tuesday.

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

(4th game for caretaker manager Keith Millen. Tony Pulis expected to be announced as manager on Monday.)

Pre-match- Pulis settling into his seat in the stands.

3'- Chamakh gets a nasty head bump against the Hull midfielder.
7'- Chamakh back on with plenty of head bandages.
14'- Chamakh returns after a second round of bandages; the first set fell off.

(Getty Images)

18'- Bolasie fires well wide from an acute angle, but had Dikgacoi wide open in the box. Should've fed it in.

23'- Skirmish in the stands as a result of a "We Are Hull City" banner; fans are contesting the chairman's proposed name change of the club.

33'- Jedinak drops off to Gayle, whose shot is deflected by a defender on the way through.

34'- Chamakh's tape job is pulled off for the third time.

36'- Jerome comes in for Chamakh.

40'- Speroni leaps and catches a cross from the left side.

41'- Deflected shot by Boyd finds the hands of Speroni.

43'- Foul throw by Hull. Leg goes up and ball grazes the back of the head.

45'- Three minutes added on.

45'+3- Elmohamady gets a yellow.

Half- Graham replaces Brady for Hull.

52'- Sagbo's close strike slid away by a gliding Speroni. At the other end, Gayle slides on his own and can't put the ball on target as he meets the keeper.
54'- Dikgacoi with a yellow.
55'- Cross comes in to Jerome, but deflected away by the defense for a corner.
56'- Huddlestone fires wide left.
58'- A low, weak drive by Gayle easily held by McGregor. Rosenior comes in for McShane.
61'- Sagbo's cross deflected on the way to Speroni's hands.
64'- Gayle has an optimistic shot, but goes high and wide right.
66'- Bolasie shoots wide left after picking up the giveaway. Huddlestone is booked.
68'- Jerome shakes around the defense; fires high at the edge of the box.
69'- Koren fires high, but deflected for a corner. The ball gets loose in the box, but Hull can't get a foot on it.
75'- O'Keefe in for Dikgacoi.
77'- Gedo for Koren.
78'- Bolasie controversially sent off by Anthony Taylor.
81'- Bannan scores! Jerome with a beautiful cross along the face of goal. Bannan slots it home.
84'- Huddlestone's low shot with pace held well by Speroni.
86'- Puncheon replaces Gayle.
90'- Four added minutes.
90'+2- Livermore curls one wide left.
90'+4- A Hull free header off a corner is cleared off the line, while the rebound crashes off the post. Heart in throat. Whistle blows moments later. What a game. Dodged the bullets at the end, but a vital three points for the Eagles.

FINAL: HULL CITY 0 - 1 PALACE

My "Man of the Match":

(Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Have to go with Bannan again for the second straight match. Obviously he scored the winner, but I like the way he fits in with this group. The Eagles travel to Norwich next Saturday for another winnable road match.

Minute-by-Minute Review: Palace 0 - 0 Everton

(3rd game - likely his last - for caretaker manager Keith Millen. Game delayed 15 minutes due to traffic delays in Croydon.)

6'- Osman turns inside the box and fires it wide.
8'- Good keep on the endline by Chamakh, but plays it back offside.
12'- Baines to Osman. Curls wide. Lukaku misplays a close header that would've been a goal. 77% to 23% possession for Everton.
14'- Corner for Palace after Chamakh chests one down in the box, but can't get a clean strike away.
18'- Big cross to Dikgacoi, but too much pace to shoot it on goal.
19'- Bolasie with a low shot, wide right from the edge of the box.
21'- So, it IS pronounced "Dee-kah-gwee..." Mirallas' curler saved well by Speroni.
23'- McCarthy well high and wide left on the shot.
28'- Rain coming down heavily now.
31'- Still big possession advantage to Everton. Now 71% to 29%.
34'- Moxey's cross straight at Howard.
35'- Thomas to Dikgacoi, heads it straight up in the air, off the side of his head. Glorious chance for a goal.
38'- Thomas' long-range 25-yarder tipped away acrobatically by Howard.
39'- Bannan's cross headed wide by Chamakh. Another close chance.
40'- Pienaar wildly wide right on his shot.
44'- Osman with a clean hit, but straight at Speroni.
45'- Moxey's cross thumped away by Howard. One minute of added time.

Half- O'Keefe on for Dikgacoi. KD pulled a muscle coming back on to the pitch after the break.

51'- The "Mile" chant rises up from the stands.
52'- Moxey fires well high from 20 yards.
53'- Thomas beats the offside trap, then chips it over Howard into the side netting.
56'- Deulofeu in for Mirallas. Barkley comes in for Osman.
58'- Barkley curls one wide left.
63'- Jerome in for Chamakh.
66'- Bolasie hits a weak curler to the hands of Howard.
67'- Thomas just strays offside after Bolasie spins like a whirling dervish to get the pass away.
74'- Jerome mishits the shot, but deflects out for a corner.
77'- Gabbidon knocks it out off Deulofeu as it strays out for a corner. A header by Jagielka is then cleared off the line by Moxey after caroming off the bar. Sigh of relief.
81'- 72% to 28% possession advantage for Everton.
85'- Puncheon in for Thomas.
87'- Jedinak picks up a yellow for a professional foul.
88'- Baines' free kick goes right into the wall.
89'- Another free kick near the endline is headed away by Ward.
90'- Loosey-goosey defense by Palace. Out for a corner. 25-yard drive curled wide right by Everton. Three minutes added on.
90'+3- Foul by Coleman inside the box as he clashes hard against Moxey. Stays down for a while, but gets back up after some time.

FINAL: PALACE 0 - 0 EVERTON

My "Man of the Match":

Barry Bannan. Seemed to be everywhere on the pitch. Passed well, and set up some great chances.

International break...new manager likely to come in, time to heal some of those injuries. The next four matches after the break all look winnable. Eagles visit Hull City next on the 23rd.

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.