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.

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.