January 28 2014

Jason Puncheon (Photo: Andy Roberts)

Crystal Palace gave their survival chances a lift with a 1-0 win at home to Hull City.

Jason Puncheon scored his third goal in three league games to give Palace a win that moves them five points above the relegation zone.

The Eagles had chances early on as Dean Moxey's shot from a well-worked free-kick was deflected out. And from the corner, Mile Jedinak just failed to get a touch as the ball flashed past.

Hull were unlucky not have been awarded a penalty after Danny Gabbidon was outpaced by Shane Long and tangled with the striker in the box. However, referee Roger East waved away the Hull appeals.

And moments later in the 16th minute, Puncheon fired the Eagles in front. Yannick Bolasie sent over a cross from the right to Puncheon whose header hit Marouane Chamakh and rebounded back to the on-loan winger to blast home.

Jedinak stung Allan McGregor's hands with a powerful free-kick, while in first half stoppage time Julian Speroni pushed out a swerving free-kick from Tom Huddlestone.

Hull piled on the pressure for almost the entire second half as Palace sat deep and sucked it up, breaking on the counter attack.

Manager Tony Pulis threw on club captain Paddy McCarthy to shore things up at the back with Hull throwing everything at the Eagles.

Jake Livermore, Long, Nikica Jelavic and Liam Rosenior all had opportunities to score but Palace held firm.

And in stoppage time, the Tigers went down to 10 men after McGregor was shown a straight red after a clash with Stuart O'Keefe - who got a yellow - and Huddlestone had to go in goal as Hull had used all their subs.

The victory propels the Eagles up to 14th and level with their visitors in the Premier League table.

Palace: Speroni, Mariappa, Gabbidon (O'Keefe 81), Delaney, Moxey, Puncheon, Ward, Jedinak, Bolasie (McCarthy 64), Chamakh (Wilbraham 86), Jerome.

Not used: O'Keefe, Gayle, Wilbraham, Williams, Price, Bannan.

Hull: McGregor, Bruce (Quinn 76), Davies, McShane, Rosenior, Elmohamady, Meyler (Boyd 56), Huddlestone, Livermore, Jelavic (Fryatt 84), Long.

Not used: Koren, Fryatt, Sagbo, Harper, Faye, Quinn.

2013/14 match reports

2013/14 squad stats

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