Report: Town 2-0 Palace


By Aston
December 26 2005

Town slumped to another home defeat following a 2-0 defeat against Crystal Palace at Portman Road earlier today.

The visitors, as is normal at Portman Road this season started the better side and had the first shot on goal after less than a minute, Andy Johnson heading Ben Watson’s cross wide. 

 

Watson himself was next to try and his luck and it was only because of Town ‘keeper Lewis Price that his 20-yarder did not find the back of the net.

 

14 minutes in Jon Macken scored Palace’s opener when he fired Johnson’s cross into the top corner of the net.

 

The goal as ever acted as the wake up-call to Town who moved into life for a few minutes flowing the goal, Fabian Wilnis had a shot/cross saved by Palace ‘keeper Kiraly, Darren Currie was next to try and level the scores up with two shots, both of which had to stopped by Kiraly while Nicky Forster fired just over on the half hour mark.

 

The final 15 minutes of the first half were dominated by Town in the final third but they never failed to convert any chances or get many shots on target. 

 

The first 15 minutes of the second half had very little worth writing about, a few off sides a few cleared corners and that’s about it, but the final half an hour started with a goal.

 

Michael Hughes firing home which a thunderbolt of an effort from 30-yards which flew past Price into the back of the net to give Palace a 2-0 lead.

 

All Town could muster in reply to Palace’s second was a few weak and wide shots from various players, the introduction of Danny Haynes injected some passion but there was still killer instinct in the final 3rd even when Palace went down to ten men for the final 13 minutes following the dismissal of Jon Macken for violent conduct the eagles still looked like the team that would be soaring at full time.

 

Dowie’s team finished the game with 9 men when Ben Watson was shown a second yellow for a foul on Dean McDonald.

 

Ipswich Squad: Lewis Price, Luis Sito, Richard Naylor, Jason De Vos, Fabian Wilnis, Gavin Williams, Owen Garvan, Jimmy Juan, Darren Currie, Ian Westlake, Nicky Forster.

Subs: Shane Supple, Matt Richards, Jim Magilton, Dean McDonald, Danny Haynes.

 

Crystal Palace: G Kiraly, F Hall, D Ward, T Popovic, M Leigertwood, J McAnuff, B Watson, M Hughes, T Soares, J Macken, A Johnson.

Subs: J Speroni, M Hudson, D Freedman, C Morrison, W Andrews.

Town 0 Palace 2
Goals
None
Macken (14)
Hughes (61)
Yellow
Cards
Juan
Naylor
Garvan.
Popover
Macken
Leigertwood
Hughes
Johnson
Watson.
Red
Cards
None
Macken
(violent conduct)
Watson
Two Yellows
Subs
Haynes on for Wilnis (65)
McDonald on for Williams (81)
Hudson on for Hughes (80)
Morrison on for Johnson (90)
Possession
42%
58%
Shots
8
10
Corners
8
6
Fouls
13
18
Attendance:
27,392

That result leaves Town 15th in the league on 29 points 8 away from the play-offs and 8 away from the drop zone with a goal difference of -11.  

 

According to Joe Royle pre-match this was the strongest team he was going to use over the festive period so in short, we are stuffed.

 

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