November 25 2008

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace maintained their good run of form with a 2-1 win at Norwich City.

Norwich made a good start but found Eagles stopper Julian Speroni in his usual fine form.

The Argentine beat out Adam Drury's header from David Bell's free-kick then from the resulting corner, Speroni saved Antoine Sibierski's shot.

Speroni was then on hand to divert Sammy Clingan's deflected strike around the post as Norwich had Palace on their knees.

But against the run of play, Palace stole the lead in the 27th minute when Paddy McCarthy's long ball to Craig Beattie saw the striker beat the offside trap and slot home his fourth of the season.

Neil Warnock's men grew in confidence and took a hold of the game, doubling the lead five minutes before half-time as John Oster scored with a sublime chip over keeper Andy Marshall for his third goal of the season.

Norwich had Palace on the back foot early in the second half with Leroy Lita nodding Drury's cross narrowly wide, then Bell put Jon Otsemobor's pass well over the crossbar.

The hosts got a deserved goal just past the hour mark with a Matthew Pattison header from Lee Croft's centre.

The Canaries almost grabbed an equaliser but Mark Fotheringham's thumping shot arrowed inches past the post.

As City poured forward in search of another goal, the Palace rearguard stood firm to claim a third win in four matches.

Norwich: Marshall, Otsemobor, Drury, Kennedy, Bertrand (Fotheringham 46), Croft, Clingan, Pattison, Bell (Lupoli 88), Sibierski (Hoolahan 46), Lita.

Not Used: Nelson, Cureton.

Palace: Speroni, Clyne, McCarthy, Fonte, Hill, Oster, Carle (Derry 66), Watson, Scannell, Beattie (Lawrence 90), Kuqi (Andrew 80).

Not Used: Flahavan, Moses.

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