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  • Kick-off: 15:00
  • Venue: Ninian Park
  • Attendance: 11647
  • Referee: Dowd, P

Live Commentary

90mins

The ref has blown his whistle for full time.

90mins

Ben Watson is booked for unsporting behaviour.

88mins

Crystal Palace are replacing Gary Borrowdale with Mark Hudson.

88mins

The referee has booked Fitz Hall.

80mins

Kevin Cooper is replaced by Paul Parry.

79mins

Clinton Morrison goes into the referees book for dissent.

79mins

Jeff Whitley is booked for dissent.

76mins

Crystal Palace are replacing Jon Macken with Wayne Andrews.

59mins

Crystal Palace are replacing Aki Riihilahti with Jobi McAnuff.

59mins

Tom Soares goes into the referees book for unsporting behaviour.

46mins

The second half is under way with the score currently at 1 v 0.

45mins

Half time whistle is blown by P Dowd

26mins

Goal!! Michael Ricketts scores for Cardiff.

0mins

The ref has blown his whistle and the match has started.

Match Report

The Bluebirds made it two victories in a row when a first-half goal from Michael Ricketts was enough to beat the visitors.

Dave Jones kept the side that beat Leicester in midweek while on the bench for Palace was former Bluebird Jobi McAnuff.

City had the first strike on goal in the 15th minute when Ricketts beat the offside trap and waited for the bounce before lashing the ball inches over the visitors crossbar.

Five minutes later a Jason Koumas free-kick was tipped over the bar by Palace keeper Gabor Kiraly who was certainly the busiest shot-stopper as City stepped up a gear.

The Bluebirds went ahead in the 26th minute after a fine piece of opportunism by Cameron Jerome. He chased a long ball to the byline and fired in a shot that Kiraly couldn't hold.

Kevin Cooper was in like a flash for the loose ball and it deflected to Ricketts who thumped it into the corner of the net for his second strike in two games.

As the first half drew to a close Palace piled on the pressure but the Bluebirds defence held firm.

The second half was only six minutes old when Jerome should have increased Cardiff's lead. Ricketts crossed from the right and a deflection sent the ball into Jerome's path but he hooked his shot over an open goal.

Neil Alexander came to City's rescue on the hour when he beat out a shot from Ben Watson and as Tom Soares ran in he managed to finger-tip the ball behind for a corner.

McAnuff was brought on by Iain Dowie and his runs began causing the Bluebirds problems and from one of his crosses Jon Macken lifted the ball over Alexander's crossbar when well-placed.

Cardiff were now being penned back in their own half and a header from Soares flashed wide while Clinton Morrison forced another save from Alexander. Dowie used all his substitutes as the clock ticked down but City survived a few scares to thoroughly deserve their second victory of the week.

Cardiff City Team

Crystal Palace Team

Cardiff City

Crystal Palace

Corners

17

Fouls

1511

Goal attempts

815

Shots off target

47

Offsides

66

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