April 7 2007

Shefki Kuqi

At last! Crystal Palace produced a fluent, confident display in the spring sunshine to overwhelm promotion hopefuls Preston 3-0, reports Peter Gillman.

Sadly, the Eagles’ performance comes too late to salvage their own playoff hopes, but shows what they might have achieved if they had played to this standard throughout the season.

Following his poor showing against Sheffield Wednesday, Shefki Kuqi was a revelation with two superb goals, and he struck up a good understanding with Clinton Morrison at last.

Palace dominated from the start and went ahead after Morrison won a corner on the right. Kuqi was still protesting to ref Tanner over an earlier freekick decision that had gone against him. But when Ben Watson swung in his corner, Kuqi rose to meet it on the six-yard line and powered his header home.

Kuqi made it two with a stunning strike on 29 minutes. Tom Soares laid off the ball to Morrison who clipped in a cross which Kuqi volleyed into the top corner of Lonergan’s goal from eight yards.

Palace created more chances, the best falling to Morrison when a defender’s rebound reached him in the box. He had only Lonergan to beat but the keeper pushed his shot for a corner.

Preston tried to get back into the game after half time and David Nugent created three openings in the first ten minutes. Ormerod wasted the best when he slipped as he was about to shoot.

Palace stormed back and Leon Cort, Morrison and Kuqi all went close. Then Soares won a corner and Cort sprinted into the box to meet Watson’s kick. His header into the centre of the goal gave Lonergan no chance.

By now Preston were thoroughly dispirited and there was an enjoyable moment of comedy when Nugent was replaced by Ricketts on 74 minutes. Nugent sat on the bench and hurled first his stocking tapes and then his shin pads on to the grass in disgust, each of them greeted with ironic cheers from the Palace fans.

Both Paul Ifill and Morrison had chances to make it four for the Eagles in added time. But their performance was enough to win jubilant cheers at the final whistle, coupled with regrets for what could have been.

Palace 3-0 Preston

Goals: Kuqi 16, Kuqi 21, Cort 68

Bookings: Soares 90 (Palace), Alexander 55, Pugh 89 (Preston)

Team: Kiraly, Lawrence, Hudson, Cort, Borrowdale, McAnuff (71 Ifill), Watson (83 Grabban ), Fletcher (76 Kennedy), Soares, Morrison, Kuqi

Subs not used: Speroni, Butterfield

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