January 17 2009

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace's play-off chances were dealt a blow after they were beaten 4-1 at home to Ipswich.

Eagles striker Alan Lee scored against his former club but it proved to be not enough.

Palace started brightly but found themselves a goal down in the 19th minute against the run of play.

Clint Hill fouled Pablo Counago on the edge of the penalty box and Owen Garvan saw his a free-kick bounce beyond the unsighted Julian Speroni into the net.

Nick Carle and Sean Scannell had opportunities to score but the Selhurst Park side went further behind in the 27th minute.

Davis Norris got on the end of Counago's pass on the break and rifled past Speroni in the Eagles goal.

Lee pegged a goal back three minutes later with a header past Wright from Speroni's long kick forward.

Paul Ifill went narrowly close before half-time and at the start of the second period, Carle had strong claims for a penalty turned down by referee Clive Penton after he was fouled by Tommy Miller in the box.

Ipswich made it 3-1 when substitute Jon Stead set up fellow sub Kevin Lisbie to rattle the ball home on 69 minutes.

Palace sub Shefki Kuqi, another former Tractor Boy, went close then had an effort cleared off the line by Town defender Dan Harding.

And Palace's day was summed up by Hill's own goal in the 89th minute as Ipswich completed their rout.

Palace: Speroni, Clyne, Lawrence (Butterfield 46), Fonte, Hill, Derry, Carle, Oster (Djilali 82), Ifill, Scannell (Kuqi 63), Lee.

Not Used: Hills, Danns.

Ipswich: Richard Wright, Bruce, McAuley, Balkestein, Harding, Haynes (Lisbie 65), Norris, Counago (Stead 65), Garvan, Walters (Quinn 90), Miller.

Not Used: Supple, Shumulikoski.

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