Crystal Palace 3 - 2 Sheffield United

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Saturday Sep 22 2007 03:00

Peter Taylor's tenure at Selhurst Park looks like it will last a bit longer after Crystal Palace's best performance of the season in a five-goal thriller against Sheffield United.

After a goalless scrappy first-half with both sides missing useful chances, the second half exploded into action with Bryan Robson's side going in front on 48 minutes.Keith Gillespie's in-swinging corner from the left caught Palace defender Mark Hudson off balance and his sliced clearance sailed past the rooted Julian Speroni.

However, Dougie Freedman was immediately sent on as substitute and the game dramatically changed course.

On 60 minutes a spectacular passing move involving five players ended with Freedman jinking his way into the box before squaring the ball to Tom Soares who blasted into the roof of the net from ten yards out.

Nine minutes later Palace were in front. Freedman was in the action again with a clever flick to Tony Craig.

The Palace full-back crossed from the byline and, although it took a deflection off a Sheffield United defender, the ball dropped nicely to Carl Fletcher who drove home from five yards out.

Palace were playing well enough as they sought to increase their lead, but the Blades stung the home crowd as James Beattie latched on to a Leigh Bromby pass and, with the Palace defence wide open, the ex-Everton striker perfectly chipped the ball past Speroni from 15 yards out.

But Palace kept plugging away and one minute from time United were unable to clear and skipper Chris Morgan was adjudged to have held down Soares and the referee pointed straight to the penalty spot.

Up stepped Ben Watson, who capped a fine performance by rifling the penalty past Paddy Kenny's outstretched right hand to give Palace their first win since the opening game of the season.

  • 90
    The referee has booked Besian Idrizaj.
  • 90
    That's it, it's all over, the referee has blown the final whistle.
  • 89
    Ben Watson takes a penalty for Crystal Palace and scores!.
  • 86
    Crystal Palace are replacing James Scowcroft with Besian Idrizaj.
  • 83
    Paul Dickov is replaced by Jeff Hughes.
  • 80
    Sheff Utd are replacing Leigh Bromby with Danny Webber.
  • 76
    Goal!! Sheff Utd have scored with James Beattie putting it in the back of the net.
  • 74
    Keith Gillespie is being taken off, Stephen Quinn has come on in his place.
  • 70
    Goal!! Carl Fletcher scores for Crystal Palace.
  • 60
    Goal!! Tom Soares scores for Crystal Palace.
  • 55
    Stuart Green is being taken off, Dougie Freedman has come on in his place.
  • 48
    Own goal, Mark Hudson has put it in his own net.
  • 46
    The second half is under way with the score currently at 0 v 0.
  • 45
    The ref has blown his whistle for half time.
  • 0
    It's 3pm on Saturday, September 22nd, the match has kicked off.

Statistics

Crystal Palace
Shots on target 6
Shots off target 7
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 7
Offsides 2
Corners 4

Sheffield United
Shots on target 6
Shots off target 5
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 14
Offsides 5
Corners 3

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