January 27 2007

FA Cup

Crystal Palace were dumped out of the Cup by Preston, going down to two second half goals, reports Peter Gillman.

The Eagles had the better of the first half but went behind moments after the interval to a stunning individual strike by - you’ve guessed it - David Nugent.

Palace struggled to get back into the game and Preston settled the tie with a second goal eight minutes from time.

Palace pressed hard from the start. On five minutes the ball broke to Hudson who headed towards an empty Preston net, but keeper Lonergan scrambled back to push the ball over the bar.

On 14 minutes Fletcher rose to the ball from a corner but headed wide. Then Palace had two shouts for handball in the area turned down.

Palace came closest on 41 minutes when a Scowcroft shot was deflected but Lonergan clutched the ball as Green and Morrison rushed in.

The Palace defence had kept danger-man Nugent quiet in the first half but on 46 minutes he won the ball wide on the left. He held off several Palace defenders, cut his way into the area, then curled his shot past Flinders.

Having gone ahead, Preston upped their game and Palace had little response. Palace manager Taylor brought on first Ifill, then Kuqi and the Doug, but it made little difference.

Fletcher had a long-range pile driver well saved, then Morrison and Hudson got in each other’s way as they attempted to head a Kennedy cross.

Preston’s second goal came from a corner on the left. Flinders appeared at fault in coming out and missing the cross, leaving Preston 's Wilson a simple tap-in.

Palace had no answer and exited the cup. It was depressing that they were outplayed so easily by a team occupying one of the play-off places.

Palace: Flinders; Butterfield (Freedman 67), Hudson, Ward, Lawrence ; Green (Ifill 56) , Fletcher , Kennedy, McAnuff ; Scowcroft (Kuqi 67), Morrison.

Subs not used: Speroni, Cort. .

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