August 22 2010

Claude Davis

Ipswich Town came to Selhurst and headed back to Suffolk with three points after a 2-1 victory. Palace manager George Burley blamed the penalty and sending off of Claude Davis for the result, reports Jamesey.

After a disappointing away defeat at Barnsley (1-0, Aug 14), we were all hoping for a bit of a turn-round at home to Roy Keane's Tractor Boys (Aug 21).

The first half was pretty well even stevens. Ipswich ran most of the show from midfield but Palace played some pretty football and linked up nicely in the style we were expecting from George Burley.

Regrettably the pretty football rarely developed into anything approaching a shot at goal and Tractor Boys keeper Marton Fulop must have had one of his least testing afternoons for quite a while.

Early in the second half, Claude Davis blatantly pulled back Jon Stead in the area and consequently got himself sent off and gave Ipswich a penalty which they unhesitatingly converted.

I found it difficult to believe that quite a few Eagles supporters where I sit (bang opposite the Holmesdale penalty area) were disputing the penalty and gibbering obscenities at the referee and linesman.

It was one of the most cut-and-dried incidents I have ever seen so what on earth is the point of shouting and disputing it? A waste of breath and effort from silly people.

A few minutes later Ipswich added another one and, although Palace looked more threatening as the second half progressed, it was much the story as before.

The Tractor Boys did get a man sent off for colliding with Julian Speroni and the dynamic Neil Danns scored a consolation goal right at the death. In the post-match press conference, Mr Keane made a disparaging comment about our keeper's good recovery after the incident. Well, he would wouldn't he?

So it was the new-style, tough-guy Ipswich Town against the new-style, pretty-football Crystal Palace and on the day the hard men won.

At half time, our new recruit, Dutchman Edgar Davids, was paraded around the pitch holding a No 20 shirt. He is to be paid by the game apparently, but how much is, of course, not common knowledge. I have every confidence in our new owners that the fee will be at a sensible level.

One has to wonder how a 37-year-old midfielder will fare in the Championship. But if Edgar pulls in a few extra punters and adds some interest to a few matches, who can complain?

Another import from Suffolk (oops, sorry, Mr Burley, I nearly said "Ipswich reject) was also introduced at half time. Spaniard Pablo Counago (not a terribly youthful 31-years-old) joined the sizeable procession of signings and loans from Ipswich and got a big ovation from the away fans.

That tells you something, or does it?

Email Jamesey with your comments to jevans3704@aol.com

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