September 1 2007

Selhurst Park

Crystal Palace went down 1-0 in the South London derby with Charlton at Selhurst Park.

The only goal of the game arrived in the 74th minute from Charlton's summer signing from Portsmouth Svetoslav Todorov.

Charlton fashioned the first chance after two minutes when Patrick McCarthy headed a Darren Ambrose cross wide.

Then Addicks stopper Nicky Weaver had to be alert to push James Scowcroft's close-range header around the post 13 minutes later.

Charlton forward Chris Iwelumo saw his effort clip the top of Speroni's bar, but Palace finished the half strong and had a penalty appeal turned down after Clinton Morrison tumbled with Jon Fortune in the box.

Eight minutes into the second period, Speroni spared Mark Hudson's blushes when he palmed over the defender's sliced clearance when it was heading into the net.

Andy Reid and Iwelumo went close for the visitors, before sub Paul Ifill forced a fine save from Weaver with a decent strike.

Then came Todorov's goal. He'd only been on the pitch for seven minutes before he latched on the end of keeper Nicky Weaver's goalkick and as Julian Speroni and Leon Cort dithered, he rifled home from six yards.

Palace newboy Besian Idrizaj missed a great chance to level the scores with five minutes left, but his header was superbly blocked by Weaver.

And in stoppage time, Addicks sub Izale McLeod should have made the game safe with with a one-on-one on Speroni, but the keeper thwarted him.

Palace: Speroni, Lawrence, Hudson, Cort, Craig, Soares, Fletcher (Martin 78), Kennedy, Hughes (Ifill 58), Morrison (Idrizaj 70), Scowcroft.