August 8 2009

Stern John

Crystal Palace salvaged a point on the opening day of the season with an Alan Lee header in a 1-1 draw with Plymouth.

We were without Jose Fonte so Matt Lawrence deputised and new signings Freddie Sears and Stern John were in the starting line-up, but Darren Ambrose was only fit enough for the newly enlarged 7 man substitutes bench.

Palace threatened first on 2 minutes as an Alessane N’Diaye cross was headed wide by Stern John, but with their very first attack, Plymouth took the lead.

A long forward pass was misjudged by Nathaniel Clyne and Gary Sawyer was unceremoniously brought down by Lawrence about 20 yards out. The resulting free kick was put behind for a corner.

Luke Summerfield then drifted over the cross which Kristian Timar hammered into the back of the net from 5 yards with the help of the bar.

Both Lawrence and Clyne were struggling with Maclean, Mackie and Fallon all causing problems during the opening period. Mackie forced Speroni into another save, this time with his legs, after a cross from Maclean as well as outpacing Lawrence but Speroni managed to close down the Scottish striker.

Clint Hill went close with a header on 26 minutes following a Moses corner, but on the half hour Stern John and Roman Larrieu collided in an ariel challenge and after a lengthy delay, he was replaced by Alan Lee.

Plymouth were good value for their lead but we nearly managed to get on level terms when a Neil Danns drive from 10 yards went inches past the top right hand corner and then a minute later Freddie Sears, 20 yards out, let fly with a drive which Larrieu tipped over the bar.

Rory Fallon forced a diving save from Speroni as the first half came to an end, with Warnock needing to rally the troops for the second half.

We got off to another good start in the second half, Sears having a shot deflected behind for a corner on 46 minutes.

However, our set piece delivery throughout the game was disappointing and despite Plymouth giving away a host of free-kicks, no-one in a Palace shirt could provide a decent chance for an equaliser.

Fallon forced another save from Speroni but on the hour, Warnock brought on Ambrose for his debut and 2 minutes later, we were level.

Moses sent a cross in from the right and Lee despatched a header past Larrieu from 6 yards to bring us level and send Selhurst into raptures.

His relief was visible for all to see, as he celebrated in front of the Holmesdale. Never has a striker needed a goal more than Al, who has struggled since he joined us a year ago.

Alessane N’Diaye was having a solid game in midfield, given that this was his league debut also and it was his run on 66 minutes which saw Ambrose send in a teasing cross which Sears forced a save for Larrieu.

Our tails were up and Lee was winning flick-ons and causing the Plymouth back-line problems, as we looked to edge into the lead.

Yet, despite all our enthusiasm we could not find the winner as while we finished the match the stronger of the 2 teams, Warnock will know that we will need to start matches better than we did today. The injury to John, however, will be a concern.

Crystal Palace: Speroni, Clyne, Hill, Derry, McCarthy, Lawrence, Danns (Ambrose 60), John (Lee 35), Moses (Scannell 79), Sears, N’Diaye. Subs Not Used: Carle, Flahavan, Butterfield, Ertl