February 24 2009

Nick Carle

Crystal Palace held second-placed Birmingham City to a goalless draw at Selhurst Park.

The Eagles had to play the last 14 minutes with 10 men after Nick Carle was sent off for a rash tackle on Cameron Jerome.

And they managed to finish the game with a hard-fought point as they bid to reach the Championship play-offs.

Palace made a promising start with striker Alan Lee having a cross-shot hooked clear by Sebastian Larsson then Victor Moses smacked a 20-yarder that Maik Taylor had to be on his guard to deal with.

Eagles keeper Julian Speroni was alert to save at the feet of Blues midfielder Lee Bowyer before Keith Fahey fired wide of the goal.

Former Palace striker Marcus Bent almost opened the scoring for the visitors but his header from Larsson's cross sailed inches past the post.

A defensive mix-up between debut boy Stephen Carr and Taylor nearly allowed Lee to nip in and score. And just before the break, ex-Blues midfielder Neil Danns saw his drive well saved by Taylor after he had claims for a penalty turned down when Danns appeared to be pulled in the area by Keith Fahey.

Birmingham had two excellent chances shortly after the interval when Bowyer capitalised on Jose Fonte's mistake but rifled wide, then Carlos Costly made a hash of his shot from six yards.

Moses limped off with a hamstring injury on 54 minutes as the match became a fractious affair with neither side able to create clear-cut chances.

Carle was then shown a straight red card by referee Paul Taylor in the 76th minute after his rough challenge on Jerome.

With the extra man advantage, Blues piled forward in search of a winner but Fahey nodded off target and Jerome missed a great chance right on the goal line at the death.

Palace: Speroni, Clyne, Lawrence, Jose Fonte, Hill, Oster (Ertl 87), Danns, Carle, Moses (Hills 54), Rui Fonte (Butterfield 77), Lee.

Not Used: Kuqi, Pinney.

Birmingham: Maik Taylor, Carr, Ridgewell, Jaidi, Murphy, Sinclair (Bouazza 65), Fahey, Bowyer, Larsson (Johnson 83), Costly (Jerome 59), Bent.

Not Used: Lyness, Traore.

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