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

(Note: Missed the first four minutes due to a signal glitch.)

7'- Jelavic nearly pokes it home after a decent cross.
9'- Mile rises to the Puncheon free kick, but heads it wide of the post.
13'- Davies' weak header off the corner is straight to Jules. 35%-65% possession.
14'- Gabbidon hauls down long. No penalty given. Might have gotten away with one. Tough to tell. Upon replay, looks like both players' feet were entangled.
16'- Puncheon scores! Bolasie crosses from the endline, the header from Punch is blocked, then he blasts the rebound into the top right corner.
22'- Delaney gets a yellow on Long. Retaliation for an earlier clash.
24'- Low drive from Mile; far and wide.
30'- Mariappa open at the edge of the box, but fires over the bar from 20 yards.
32'- 37%-63% possession.
39'- Mile's free kick is tipped over the bar by McGregor.
41'- Puncheon fires way off target. 36%-64% possession.
42'- Bolasie with a beautiful move, crosses, but Chamakh gets in the way of Punch's header.
45'- Two added minutes.
45'+2- Huddlestone's long free kick batted awkwardly away by Speroni.

48'- Rain falling much heavier this half.
49'- Jelavic's header is defended well, and held by Speroni.
50'- Livermore gains the ball inside the box, but it flies inches over the bar.
56'- Boyd in for Meyler.
57'- Possession steady at 36% to 64%.
59'- Boyd from 25 yards gets a shot on, parried away by Jules, and the rebound hits the side netting, but offside is called.
61'- Great defensive effort after sustained Hull pressure. Rosenior misses from three yards out to the outside of the post.
62'- Jelavic misses high from the left side.
63'- Chamakh booked for a challenge on Huddlestone.
64'- McCarthy in for Bolasie. Season debut. First league game since April 2012.
68'- Chamakh on the half-turn, fires straight at the keeper after a great set-up by Punch.
72'- Jelavic stretches for a touch, but pops it up to Jules.
74'- Questionable handball off the corner, as Mile battled for a header.
76'- Quinn in for Bruce.
81'- O'Keefe replaces Gabbidon.
82'- 38% to 62% possession.
83'- Yellow for Jerome after bumping goalkeeper McGregor.
84'- Long heads over after a deep cross. Fryatt is in for Jelavic.
86'- Wilbraham in for Chamakh.
90'- Five added minutes.
90'+1- O'Keefe booked. McGregor, the keeper, is sent off for arguing and kicking O'Keefe.
90'+5- A long Hull drive slips inches wide, a glance off a foot sends it the wrong way.

FINAL: PALACE 1 - 0 HULL CITY

My "Man of the Match":

(Action Images)

 

Puncheon. Another tally to decide the game. Defense played excellent again, too. Next match against the leaders, Arsenal, at the Emirates on Sunday.

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

Pre-match- Pulis with a nice hand for both sets of supporters.

5'- Bolasie's cross is headed wide by Ward.
7'- Gabbidon shanks a clearance over his own crossbar.
13'- Gabbidon optimistic from 30 yards...goes over the bar.
14'- Adam's free kick is headed down by Wilson, but Jules just gets there to tip it away.
23'- Pieters screws one inside-out and wide of the far post.
32'- Possession is 45% to 55%.
39'- Adam finds Walters, but a weak header is directed right at Speroni.
40'- Adam goes well high and wide from long range.
45'- Possession holding steady at 44% to 56%. One added minute.

46'- Adam at the edge of the box, and goes just inches wide of the far post.
51'- Puncheon wins the ball in the box, makes a good move, and slots it home low and to the left. Atones for that miss last week.
55'- Second half possession: 40%-60%.
57'- Ireland in for Whelan.
60'- Walters heads it across the face and wide.
63'- Adam fires with real pace, and again misses inches wide right.
66'- Ireland with an unorthodox high volley, but it was always rising above the goal.
68'- O'Keefe in for Guedioura.
72'- Arnautovic for Assaidi.
74'- Crouch curls one wide right.
79'- Guidetti in for Walters.
80'- Nzonzi fires high and wide from 25 yards.
82'- Arnautovic yellow card for fouling Mariappa.
83'- Nzonzi booked against Bolasie.
84'- Ward has a shot tipped away inside the box, Puncheon follows with a drive that's kicked out with the legs, and O'Keefe is denied with another leg save.
86'- Moxey for Bolasie, Wilbraham for Chamakh.
89'- Wilbraham tries a long curler that goes straight at Butland.
90'- Shot hits off Crouch and straight to Speroni. Four added minutes.
90'+3- Wilbraham on a break with Parr and Puncheon, but a weak, low drive goes wide.
90'+4- Puncheon receives a great pass from Jedinak, but a sweeping save denies him a goal.

FINAL: PALACE 1 - 0 STOKE CITY

My "Man of the Match":

Puncheon. Makes up for the penalty gaffe last week with a clutch strike this week. Palace moves from the bottom of the table to 16th. A 4th Round FA Cup tie against Wigan next Saturday, followed by the next league match at home to Hull on the 28th.

Minute-by-Minute Review: Tottenham Hotspur 2 - 0 Palace

1'- Jerome free on a break, but is a step offside.
2'- Puncheon curls one inches wide of the far post from the edge of the box.
5'- Bentaleb shoots from 25 yards, Speroni spills the rebound, but pounces on it just in time.
8'- Chamakh gets knocked by Dembele in the box. Penalty to Palace. Puncheon sprays the penalty way wide to the left. Awful penalty.
11'- Chamakh heads over off Puncheon's corner.
21'- A lot of time in the Spurs' end, but Palace can't get many quality opportunities.
26'- Parr's shot from 12 yards deflected away for a corner.
28'- Jerome inside the box takes a chance, the rebound spills out to a Spurs defender.
30'- Possession: 66% to 34% for Spurs.
31'- Lennon's cross into the six is hit well, but Adebayor can't get a diving header onto the ball.
32'- Puncheon's shot from the box is deflected into the side netting.
33'- The resulting corner sees Chamakh's tip knocked into Bolasie and cleared away.
34'- Bentaleb fires one from 30 yards off the post, across the face of goal, and out for a goal kick.
45'- Two added minutes.

48'- Eriksen's shot from 12 yards is deflected away for a corner. Naughton replaces Walker for Spurs.
50'- Chiriches fires well wide. Spurs are fired up early in this second half. Eriksen then booms one home from 12 yards out past Speroni. Adebayor's header sets up the goal.
55'- Delaney clears a cross over the crossbar for a corner.
57'- Defoe in for Soldado.
58'- Jerome fires into the side netting from a tight angle.
62'- Defoe sprays one wide; Adebayor was on the end of it, too.
64'- A shot deflects to Speroni, who gets bumped into for a foul.
68'- Williams replaces Bolasie, Gayle in for Jerome.
70'- Mariappa cautioned.
73'- Defoe slots one in after Parr slips, enabling Defoe to chip it in from six yards out. Arguably offside by a fraction.
76'- Chadli in for Eriksen.
77'- Jedinak picks up a yellow.
80'- Naughton with a yellow.
81'- Ward hits a wayward shot to the right.
82'- Guedioura comes in for Puncheon.
90'- Gayle heads one wide off a cross and deflected away for a corner. Jedinak is inches wide off another corner. Four added minutes to come.
90'+2- Guedioura hits an optimistic blast, and misses just inches wide from 35 yards away.
90'+4- Chamakh heads onto the roof of the net, after being tipped by Lloris. He misses another header high off the next corner.

FINAL: TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2 - 0 PALACE

My "Man of the Match":

Delaney. Decent defensive effort.

This EPL table is so tight now. Just six points separating 10th from 20th, which is where Palace falls to now with the defeat. Home against 12th-placed Stoke next Saturday.

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

2'- The ball is slogging in the wet grass on any pass.
9'- Miscue by Puncheon off a nice Ward cross.
11'- Possession is 47% to 53%. Can we break 50?
12'- Jedinak curls the free kick just over the bar from 25 yards.
16'- Dikgacoi yellow card for holding on to Redmond.
17'- Bassong's header off a free kick straight at Speroni.
23'- KG hits one from the arc that swerves wide.
31'- Puncheon's pass to the far post looks for Jerome, but he can't get a good touch on it.
35'- Fer's low drive slows down in the bog and is easily held by Jules.
38'- 37% to 63% possession now.
39'- Johnson blasts one off the post and in after a decent spell of possession. Hooper passed it back, and Johnson let the curler go off the woodwork and in.
41'- Hoolahan and Chamakh both get yellows for a tussle. Cham arguably should've had a red after throwing him down by the chin.
42'- Jerome's header cleared off the line from a corner.
43'- Push in the box by Fer. Gets a yellow and a penalty to Palace.
44'- Puncheon slots the kick home to Ruddy's lower left side. Jedinak picks up a yellow.

(Getty Images)

45'- Two added minutes.

Half- Parr in for Dikgacoi.

46'- Bolasie's cross had to be tipped away by Ruddy for a corner.
50'- Hoolahan's effort kick-saved by Speroni from an acute angle.
53'- Jerome fires high after a corner was tipped down by Ruddy and passed off to Mariappa.
54'- Bennett is in for an injured Turner.
56'- Delaney's cross finds Bolasie, who sends a header straight to Ruddy.
58'- Puncheon's first drive is blocked, then the rebound is fired wide. 51% to 49% second half possession for Palace.
62'- Gayle in for Jerome.
68'- Hooper turns and fires a low drive; held by Speroni.
69'- Elmander replaces Hoolahan.
79'- Johnson's hit comes off Mariappa for a corner.
80'- Williams replaces Bolasie.
82'- Fer gets his second yellow and his sent off. Studs-up tackle on Jedinak.
85'- Martin in for Hooper.
86'- Possession stats: 45%-55% overall, 52%-48% in the second half.
90'- Four added minutes.
90'+1- Williams' cross can't find Puncheon's foot at the far post.

FINAL: PALACE 1 -1 NORWICH

My "Man of the Match":

Puncheon. Scored the penalty and set up some other decent scoring chances.

A tough result in tough conditions. Slipped down to the bottom three again. Bit of a break in league play before visiting Spurs on the 11th.

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.