March 17 2009

Lee Hills

Crystal Palace let slip another lead to lose 3-1 at struggling Barnsley.

Eagles' top scorer Shefki Kuqi fired his team into an early lead only to see the home side hit back with three goals to move out of the relegation zone.

Palace roared out of the blocks and almost snatched the lead within the first minute as on-loan forward Anthony Stokes saw his 25-yard free-kick pushed over the bar by keeper Heinz Muller.

Eight minutes later, Kuqi was on target to give Palace a deserved goal from 12 yards after Victor Moses set up the Finland international for his ninth of the season.

Kuqi could have had another but Muller was equal to his header - then Barnsey equalised against the run of play in the 22nd minute.

Ex-Palace striker Jon Macken fed Jamal Campbell-Ryce who left the Eagles defenders trailing in his wake and he buried the ball past Julian Speroni.

Speroni then stopped Anderson De Silva's header, while down the other end Muller pushed out a shot from Stokes.

The Tykes began the second period well as Michael Mifsud volleyed over then they went in front for the first time on 52 minutes.

Full-back Rob Kozluk went on a powerful run into the penalty area and his dangerous cross was turned into his own net by Lee Hills.

Kuqi had a header cleared off the line by Bobby Hassell on 70 minutes, but Barnsley made the points safe with the third goal in the 73rd minute when striker Mifsud lashed home from Macken's flick.

Barnsley: Muller, Hassell, Moore, Foster, Kozluk, Hammill (Devaney 79), Colace, De Silva, Campbell-Ryce, Macken (Bogdanovic 75), Mifsud (El Haimour 89).

Not Used: Steele, Van Homoet.

Palace: Speroni, Derry, Jose Fonte (Ertl 46), Hill, Hills, Stokes, Danns (Oster 66), Carle (Comley 78), Moses, Kuqi, Clyne.

Not Used: Ifill, Rui Fonte.

Today's results and scorers

2008/09 reports

2008/09 squad stats

Rate the players' performance

Did you take any photos of the game? Upload them here