Crystal Palace vs Charlton Athletic
Match pulse
CRYAttacking pressure by 5 minutes
Who won: Charlton 1-0
Charlton Athletic beat Crystal Palace 1-0 on Sunday, December 5, 2004 at Selhurst Park. Goals for Charlton: Dennis Rommedahl (90'+3').
Play by play
- 91'
FULL-TIME: You'll be glad you missed this one, readers. Lots of passion, but no creativity or ambition from either midfield. Johnson's missed penalty and Rommedahl's late, late shot are the only things worth taking from this dirge of a match.
- 90'
GOAL! Rommedahl nips inside a challenge and fires a 20-yard shot inside Kiraly's near post. Great low drive, and about the first thing the Dane has done all afternoon.
- 89'
Just two added minutes. Charlton win a free-kick, but Boyce hoofs clear.
- 88'
Routledge fires over a superb cross, and Lakis almost nips in at the near post and steers a winning header in to Kiely's goal.
- 87'
Holland gets a boot in the face. Which is a pity, because he's a good looking lad.
- 86'
Sub: Freedman comes on for the last five minutes, but it all seems a bit 'too little, too late'.
- 85'
El Karkouri chips the ball in, and Jeffers almost pounces on the loose ball. He doesn't, though; instead giving away a free-kick.
- 84'
Riihilahti is booked for a late challenge, and Charlton get the chance to swing a ball in to the box.
- 83'
Ben Watson has played well for Palace this afternoon; tidy in possession and one of the few players willing to break at pace.
- 81'
Hughes almost slips in Johnson with a decent pass in to the area, but El Karkouri sees the ball out for a goal kick.
- 80'
Johnson manages to wriggle free in the area, but his shot is well saved by the feet of Kiely.
- 79'
Luke Young shows the first piece of skill all game, ghosting past two tackles, but is thwarted by the referee's whistle for an earlier foul.
- 78'
The game is drifting, very slowly, to it's inevitable conclusion - stalemate. Unless, readers, someone does something extraordinary.
- 77'
Television cameras pick out Sven Goran Eriksson and Tord Grip in the crowd. Who could they possibly be watching? Jeffers? I hope not. Johnson? Surely not. Murphy? Give me strength.
- 76'
Murphy picks out Jeffers with a lofted ball in to the box, but the former Arsenal striker's touch is heavy.
- 75'
So, no change to the system of either side; still 4-5-1, and a very congested midfield.
- 74'
SUB: Home boss Dowie Curbishley plays his hand first, bringing on Lakis for Kolkka, while Curbishley hauls off Bartlett and sends on Francis Jeffers.
- 72'
I think both managers would accept a point at this stage. Certainly neither side deserve all three points. They've both proved to me why they're struggling this season.
- 70'
Granville thwarts Rommedahl as the Dane skips in to the box. There was absolutely no conviction in his play.
- 69'
Rommedahl pops up again, firing a 20-yard shot straight at Kiraly. Nice to know he's still about, though.
- 67'
Johnson again breaks in to the box, but this time El Karkouri stays on his feet before winning the ball with a well-timed tackle.
- 66'
Thomas is still threatening on the rare occasions he can get the ball at his feet. His cross is well cleared by Popovic.
- 65'
Kolkka cuts inside from the left wing and attempts to curl a low shot past Kiely, but it's easily saved.
- 64'
If you're playing one man up front, I don't believe hoofing the ball 50 yards up to him when he's marked by four defenders is the best policy. Am I right? So why do both sides persist in doing so? Why?
- 63'
Murphy glides past Boyce and in to the area, but his shot is weak and straight at Kiraly.
Leaders
CRYCHA