August 22 2009

Darryl Flahavan

Crystal Palace crashed to their first home loss of the season with a 2-0 defeat against Newcastle.

Neil Warnock's side badly missed player of the year Julian Speroni who had to sit the game out with a throat injury which meant Darryl Flahavan played in goal.

One of Flahavan's first touches was to pick the ball out of the back of the net when Newcastle scored after just two minutes at Selhurst Park.

Jonas Gutierrez found Kevin Nolan from the left side with a lofted pass and the former Bolton midfielder finished first time through the legs of Flahavan.

Palace responded with attempts from Freddie Sears and former Magpie Darren Ambrose who forced keeper Steve Harper into good saves.

But the Toon doubled their lead in the 21st minute as RYAN Taylor rocketed a thunderous left-footed drive from 25 yards into the top corner.

Alan Lee nodded just wide for the Eagles and in the second half, Alassane N'Diaye almost pulled a goal back with a diving header.

Referee Andy D'Urso waved away Palace penalty appeals when N'Diaye was pulled down by Alan SMITH in the penalty box.

An unmarked Shola Ameobi, who has already bagged four goals this season, should have had another for the visitors but side-footed his shot off target.

Palace had all the play in the latter stages of the match but could not find the net with Harper saving Lee's header.

Palace: Flahavan, Butterfield, McCarthy, Fonte, Hill, Danns (Scannell 68), Derry, Ambrose, N'Diaye, Sears (Moses 67), Lee.

Not Used: Clyne, Carle, Lawrence, Djilali, Ertl.

Newcastle: Harper, Simpson, Coloccini, Steven Taylor, Jose Enrique, RYAN Taylor (Butt 65), Nolan, SMITH, Gutierrez (Geremi 89), Guthrie (Ranger 66), Ameobi.

Not Used: Krul, Xisco, LuaLua, Kadar.

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