March 5 2013

Kevin Phillips

KEVIN PHILLIPS scored a hat-trick as Crystal Palace beat promotion rivals Hull 4-2 at Selhurst Park.

Palace were denied a chance to take a 30th minute lead when David Stockdale saved top scorer Glenn Murray's penalty after Jon Williams was pushed in the box by David Meyler.

But they were given another spot kick in first half stoppage time after the linesman adjudged Murray's shot had smacked against Jack Hobbs' arm in the area. Luckily for the Eagles, PHILLIPS converted.

PHILLIPS got another goal six minutes after the break when he got on the end of a pass from Wilfried Zaha, and despite not getting a clean connection, it was enough to go beyond Stockdale.

Just seconds later he claimed his hat-trick with a deflected shot from Zaha's cross that looped over Stockdale.

Hull's Jay Simpson pulled it back to 3-1 with a neat header from Ahmed Elmohamady's cross in the 73rd minute.

Zaha increased the three-goal margin by flicking the ball into the net at the far post from Murray's feed on 77 minutes.

Meyler headed home a second goal for Hull in stoppage time from Robbie Brady's cross but the hosts held out.

The win keeps Palace in fourth but they are just two points off second place and seven points away from leaders Cardiff.

2012/13 match reports

2012/13 squad stats

Championship table

How did you get on in the Prediction League?

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

Rate the players' performance here