Crystal Palace 1-0 Hull City

Crystal Palace’s impressive revival under Tony Pulis continued last night as the Eagles defended their way to a second 1-0 victory of the season over Hull City. Jason Puncheons seventeenth minute strike was enough to secure all three points for the home side and saw them climb to 14^th place in the Premier League standings, five points clear of the drop zone.

The position that the Eagles now find themselves was unthinkable just 2 months earlier, but the arrival of Pulis has heralded six wins and six clean sheets in the South Londoners last 11 matches, and once again this victory was built on solid defensive foundations.

The game began at a frantic pace with both sides carving out good early opportunities. The first fell for Hull Cities new front man Nikica Jelavic who just failed to get onto the end of a floated Shane Long cross. The diminutive Irishman was in the thick of it again not long afterwards as his burst into the box resulted in what appeared to be a clumsy challenge from behind from Palace defender Danny Gabbidon. The referee was unmoved however and gave a goal kick, much to the frustration of Tigers boss Steve Bruce on the side line. This was to be the turning point in the match, as not long afterwards Palace pounced to score the only goal of the game.

The rejuvenated Puncheon lashed in his third goal in four matches, and with it continued his mini-revival since the shambolic penalty miss away to Tottenham a few weeks ago. Good build up play down the right hand side for the Eagles saw Yannick Bolasie create a half yard for a cross which picked out Puncheon in the area. His initial header was weak, but fortunately came off the back of Palace striker Chamakh, and fell kindly onto Puncheons favoured left foot, and he duly lashed it high into the top corner to give the Eagles the lead.

Palace looked to capitalise on taking the lead and twice went close before the interval through captain Mile Jedinak. The big Australian first headed wide from a Bolasie corner, and then hit a stinging 25-yard free kick that forced McGregor into a sprawling save.

Hull came out stronger in the second half, but failed to break down a resolute Palace defence lead by the herculean efforts of Damien Delaney. Jelavic found himself on the end of two crosses whipped in from the left hand side, but both times failed to make a telling contact on the ball. Their best chance however came when full-back Rosenior got on the end of Jake Livermore’s pull back only to miss the target from all of two yards, and in one moment summing up Hull and Bruce’s evening.

And it was only to get worse for the travelling fans, as goalkeeper McGregor was shown a straight red card after kicking out at Palace substitute Stuart O’Keefe late on. The Scottish goalkeeper took exception to the Palace midfielder’s late challenge, and lashed out leaving the referee with little option but to send him off.

Man of the Match: Damien Delaney

Match Rating

Speroni – 6

Mariappa – 6       Gabbidon – 7         Delaney – 10       Moxey – 7

Ward – 7       Jedinak – 5

          Bolasie – 7         Chamakh – 8        Puncheon – 9

Jerome – 8

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