The West Stand Senior on Ipswich vs Crystal Palace

Pre-match thoughts

My first encounter with the Crystal Palace was when studying Henry Cole’s Great Exhibition of 1851, which was held there. Let’s hope the meeting this evening will be a more relaxed and entertaining affair.

Tonight’s game? I have no idea what to expect. Both teams are entering the contest with identical win/draw/loss records, and will therefore be chasing a result. Palace have yet to win away whilst Ipswich are oddly winless at home. The Portman Road venue should be to our advantage, but it’s a hard one to call.

First half

A fairly even affair. Both teams had spells of pressure, though without too many chances taken, though a good attempt from Eze is saved by Muric early on. At the other end a corner from Davis finds Harry Clarke’s head but is miraculously kept out by Henderson.

Only 3 mins added to the clock.

Half time

Optimism was fairly high in the stands, and we all hoped for a better showing in the next 45 mins, with goals and energising substitutions as usual.

It was great to bump into my friend T.J. again.

Second half

The half started well, with Delap immediately coming close with a header that was gathered safely by Henderson.

Mateta proved too strong for our defence and scored for Palace on the 59th minute.

I kept hoping for a Morsy rocket and he did unleash one – but it went wide of the goal.

Hutchinson sent a beautiful ball across the goal mouth, but though there were bodies in, no-one managed to capitalise – a wasted chance.

A cleverly worked free kick from Davis to Chaplin was collected by Greaves and headed back towards the goal, where it hit the post low. Broadhead tried, but was unable to get his foot to it. Another nearly moment when we needed some Sarmiento magic dust.

Again, strangely, only 3 mins added to the clock, despite many stoppages, including a head injury.

Men of the Match

Difficult to pick this week as no one person was really outstanding. For consistency I would say Morsy was my man, with Muric a good second. I’m pleased to name the latter, after the negativity he faced at the start of the season, he has really stepped up and shown good form of late.

Cajuste and Hutchinson did little wrong as ever.

Jack Clarke had a stronger outing and I think he may continue to improve under Kieran’s tutelage. And although only a late substitute, Ali Al-Hamadi brought some energy to the pitch as soon as he appeared.

Always happy to see Nathan Broadhead back on the team sheet.

MotM: Sam Morsy

Best player for Palace: Eberechi Eze.

Round up

A strange and disappointingly scrappy game for us. There seemed to be some fire missing from the energy we have shown in the last few games, including firing the ball in the direction of the net. Some of this I feel is due to injuries which lead to a constantly changing team, and some of our best players are currently sidelined.

Axel Tuanzebe and George Hirst are sorely missed.

The lack of a win at home is worrying. It was not a good, exciting or enjoyable game to watch, and a fair number of amateur dramatic falls from Palace players, with their goalkeeper playing for time right from the start didn’t help. But in my humble opinion (and I’m rarely negative), neither team played well, which was doubly frustrating.

Points for the referee of the Manchester United game: 10/10. Points for last night’s referee: 6/10.

The original Crystal Palace building was destroyed by fire in 1936 and “although 89 fire engines and over 400 firemen arrived, they were unable to extinguish it”.  This resonates with tonight’s performance, though a lack of fire was the problem in this instance.

View from the train

Quiet shuffling onto a sardine can like carriage, holding as many Palace fans as Town supporters.

A very subdued atmosphere perhaps says it all.