December 26 2007

Paul Ifill

Crystal Palace sink Coventry City 2-0 away thanks to goals from Clinton Morrison and Paul Ifill.

The Eagles are within touching distance of the play-offs in ninth place after extending their unbeaten run to 11 matches.

Sean Scannell was handed his first start of the season in place of Franck Songo'o against Iain Dowie's Sky Blues.

The youngster almost scored inside three minutes after escaping Gary Borrowdale and seeing his shot saved by Andy Marshall.

Six minutes later, Julian Speroni diverted Leon Best's 20-yarder around the post, while Clinton Morrison fired off target for the Eagles.

Mark Hudson nodded a tame header wide, before Jay Tabb wasted a half chance for the home team.

The breakthrough for Palace arrived in the 47th minute as Clinton Morrison swept home from six yards after Coventry failed to clear Ben Watson's free-kick.

Right on the hour mark, Coventry were handed a lifeline with a penalty after Clint Hill was deemed to have handeled in the box. Fortunately for the Eagles, Speroni dived to his left to save the kick from Michael Doyle.

Speroni kept out a shot from Michael Mifsud and later palmed over a header from sub Julian Gray to keep his side in the match.

But Paul Ifill, back in the squad after a spell out injured, made the points safe by coming off the bench to convert James Scowcroft's flick-on to make it 2-0 in the 88th minute.

Palace: Speroni, Butterfield, Lawrence, Hudson, Hill, Derry, Watson, Soares (Fletcher 82), Scannell (Ifill 86), Scowcroft, Morrison (Hills 69).

Not Used: Freedman, Fonte.