January 19 2008

Mark Hudson

Crystal Palace's promotion bandwagon just keeps going as they won 2-0 at home to Bristol City.

The Eagles have gone 15 league matches unbeaten and remain in the top six - just seven points behind leaders West Brom.

They got off to a dream start as Clinton Morrison put them in front after just six minutes at Selhurst Park. James Scowcroft beat Jamie McCombe to the ball on the edge of the area and Morrison chased the lost cause.

As Jamie McAllister went to to clear, it smacked against the forward's thigh and diverted past goalkeeper Adriano Basso and into the goal for his 13th of the season.

Ben Watson and Scowcroft shot wide, then Scowcroft forced a save out of Basso, while Tom Soares should have done better when he flicked Morrison's cross past the post.

City's only danger came from new Australian midfielder Nick Carle, who tested Julian Speroni with a low effort before the break.

The visitors offered a brief fightback in the second period with Michael McIndoe sending a shot off target and Speroni palmed Carle's header over. Then McIndoe blasted high and wide.

Morrison almost got another goal after good work from Scowcroft and Ben Watson but rifled his effort into the side-netting.

McCombe planted a header off target and Lee Johnson sent a free-kick past the post for City, while Watson saw an effort go well over.

But the Londoners made the match safe five minutes from the end as Mark Hudson rose to head home Watson's free-kick in off the bar.

Palace: Speroni, Halls, Lawrence, Hudson, Hill, Scannell (Grabban 89), Derry, Watson, Soares, Scowcroft, Morrison (Hills 83).

Not Used: Fletcher, Freedman, Moses.

Bristol City: Basso, Orr, Fontaine, McCombe, McAllister, Sproule, Johnson, McIndoe, Elliott, Carle (Byfield 62), Showunmi (Trundle 74).

Not Used: Weale, Noble, Skuse.