September 23 2006

Clinton Morrison

A brilliant second-half strike by Clinton Morrison brought Palace a 1-0 victory over Coventry, writes Peter Gillman.

In another impressive display, Palace deserved the win, which lifts them to fifth place in the table, one point behind leaders Cardiff and Birmingham. Leon Cort and Darren Ward combined well in the back four to keep a second successive clean sheet.

Palace had the better of a tight first half. Cort went nearest to scoring with a close-range header four minutes before half time which Coventry keeper Marshall parried for a corner.

Both sides stepped up the pace in the second half and Clinton's moment of magic came on 55 minutes.

Jostling for space on the edge of the Coventry area, he collected a cross from Borrowdale on the left and volleyed over Marshall. The ball clipped the far post and rebounded into the net.

Palace continued to press and had several chances to double their lead. On 71 minutes a determined Jamie Scowcroft held up the ball after winning it from the keeper wide on the left. He crossed to the far post where Hughesey, at full stretch, headed over the bar.

Hughesey was substituted by Shefki Kuqi, who wasted a great chance moments later. Ben Watson reached him in the area but he delayed his shot and it was blocked.

Coventry were reduced to ten men when McNamee was sent off for a second yellow. On 82 minutes Kuqi won the ball on the left and squared it to Clinton, 25 yards out. With Marshall out of position, Clinton blasted the ball over the gaping goal.

There was a scare for Palace on 87 minutes when Coventry defender Hall broke clear into the box, but he blasted wide.

Ref Wolmer added four minutes at the end. He was jeered off the pitch for a series of inconsistent and often baffling decisions. Happily none proved costly for Palace.

Palace: Kiraly; Butterfield (sub Watson 19), Cort, Ward, Borrowdale; Hughes (Kuqi 71), Lawrence, Kennedy, McAnuff; Morrison (Freedman 87), Scowcroft

Subs not used: Speroni, Green.

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