Match Report


Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace     Blackburn RoversBlackburn Rovers
Richard DeaneRichard Deane Dimitri Bocharov Dimitri Bocharov
Barry DijkstraB. Dijkstra63
G
1
G
37Rio DichioR. Dichio
Dennis JeffersD. Jeffers62
D
2
D
70Diogo FernandesD. Fernandes
Stuart McinnesS. Mcinnes58
D
3
D
80Kevin CarrickK. Carrick
Bill DaviesB. Davies53
D
captain4
D
60Marcello Di BiagioM. Di Biagio
Jamie GowerJ. Gower68
M
5
D
64Simon McgovernS. Mcgovern
Jorge MoreiraJ. Moreira62
M
6
M
61Jonathan GeorgeJ. George
Tony LecocqT. Lecocq61
M
7
M
73Florian BierhoffF. Bierhoff
Brian GoldbergB. Goldberg58
M
8
M
58Phil RufusP. Rufus
Luke GrondinL. Grondin52
M
9
A
68Tim HapgoodT. Hapgood
Scott ThirlwellS. Thirlwell68
A
10captain
A
66Ben FinneyB. Finney
David FowlerD. Fowler64
A
11
A
63Marvin MonkM. Monk
 
Brendan BeresfordB. Beresford61
A
12
M
57Daniele FormonD. Formon
Eddie MayE. May58
G
13
A
47Leon KeeganL. Keegan
Tiago JardimT. Jardim56
A
14
D
57Jamie WalkerJ. Walker
Match Report
The sky is dark and overcast here at Selhurst Park where Crystal Palace play host to Blackburn Rovers. A crowd of 18,342 fill this 21,000 capacity stadium.
The pitch is in poor condition.
Crystal Palace are playing in a 3-5-2 formation while Blackburn Rovers appear to be shaped for 4-3-3.
Today's match is refereed by Terry Boyd.


0.00
Blackburn Rovers kick off and get the first half underway!
14.40
Stuart Mcinnes threads a neat ball through to Luke Grondin. Luke Grondin runs deep into the other half of the pitch. Luke Grondin lofts in a cross ball towards David Fowler. David Fowler knocks the ball goalwards with his head but is denied by Diogo Fernandes. Excellent block.
21.50
Florian Bierhoff kicks a strong pass forward to Tim Hapgood. Tim Hapgood plays a one-two with Phil Rufus and advances towards the goal... Some clumsy but lucky footwork from Tim Hapgood provides some space. He unleashes a blazing shot at goal but is denied by Bill Davies. Excellent block.
24.12
David Fowler hacks Kevin Carrick from behind! The referee calls over David Fowler and warns him to calm down! Kevin Carrick runs off the knock.
27.44
Bill Davies breaks forward. Bill Davies flicks a high pass forward. David Fowler collects the pass. David Fowler finds some space and shoots from distance but he gets too far under it and it goes high into the crowd!
30.20
Bill Davies runs up as Scott Thirlwell takes the throw-in, skillfully chesting the ball down to his feet. Bill Davies flicks a high pass forward. Scott Thirlwell collects the pass. Scott Thirlwell shoots from long range. The ball curls but the keeper is able to reach it. Well saved!
39.28
Luke Grondin makes a beautiful solo run. Luke Grondin knocks in a cross ball towards Scott Thirlwell. Scott Thirlwell connects with a diving header. The ball edges just beyond the reach of the keeper, thudding into the back of the net. Beautiful goal!!
42.41
Brian Goldberg flicks a high pass forward. Scott Thirlwell collects the pass. Scott Thirlwell shoots from 20 yards but Rio Dichio reads it well. Great keeping!
45.00
The whistle indicates the end of the first half!

Both teams emerge for the second half. Crystal Palace appear unchanged since the first half. Blackburn Rovers also appear unchanged since the first half. Blackburn Rovers switch their overall play to Attacking. The Blackburn Rovers players look more motivated than they were before.

45.00
Crystal Palace kick off and get the second half underway!
47.24
Florian Bierhoff flicks a high pass forward. Tim Hapgood controls it well on his chest. Tim Hapgood advances inside the box! Some good footwork from Tim Hapgood provides some space. He shoots at goal. The ball clips the underside of the bar and bounces just over the line. The fans cheer wildly!
53.24
Kevin Carrick threads a neat ball through to Jonathan George. Jonathan George deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Marvin Monk. Marvin Monk makes a defence splitting pass to Ben Finney. Ben Finney tries a spectacular strike. The ball hits the post, bouncing back into play. Blackburn Rovers are unable to capitalise and the keeper manages to gather up the loose ball.
55.48
Jonathan George makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Florian Bierhoff. Florian Bierhoff lofts in a cross ball towards Ben Finney. Ben Finney is perfectly placed and heads the ball at goal but it scrapes just over the bar. Good effort!
59.39
David Fowler sees Scott Thirlwell in space ahead and quickly passes the ball. Scott Thirlwell shoots from outside the area but Rio Dichio reads it well. Nice keeping!
60.09
Florian Bierhoff controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Phil Rufus. Phil Rufus lofts in a cross ball towards Tim Hapgood. Tim Hapgood powers a header at goal. Tim Hapgood scores for Blackburn Rovers!!
63.35
Plenty of goal mouth action is making this a great game to watch.
65.57
Kevin Carrick receives the ball from a throw-in from Simon Mcgovern. Kevin Carrick brings the ball forward. Kevin Carrick changes direction and makes an attacking run forward. Kevin Carrick whips in a cross ball towards Marvin Monk. Marvin Monk directs the ball goalwards with his head but it scrapes just over the bar. Good effort!
67.05
Brian Goldberg kicks a strong pass forward to David Fowler. David Fowler tries a spectacular long range effort but he balloons it over the crossbar!
73.03
Brian Goldberg kicks a strong pass forward to Scott Thirlwell. Scott Thirlwell shoots from outside the area. The ball swerves viciously but the keeper is on top of it. Fabulous save!
75.26
Marcello Di Biagio deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Florian Bierhoff. Florian Bierhoff passes the ball forward to Tim Hapgood. Tim Hapgood lofts in a cross ball towards Phil Rufus. With a superhuman jump, Phil Rufus connects with the ball and heads it goalwards. It smacks hard against the advertising boards behind the goal. Just wide!
77.57
Crystal Palace have made 2 substitutions with Brendan Beresford replacing Jamie Gower and Eddie May replacing Luke Grondin and appear to have rearranged themselves into a 3-4-3 formation.
87.23
Tony Lecocq clumsily knocks into Marvin Monk. The referee calls over Tony Lecocq and shows him a yellow card! Marvin Monk runs off the knock.
90.00
Simon Mcgovern flicks a high ball forward to Tim Hapgood who takes it down. Tim Hapgood knocks in a cross ball towards Marvin Monk. Marvin Monk makes a convincing header. Magnificent block by Stuart Mcinnes!
90.00
The referee whistles full-time!

Match Statistics
 

Crystal Palace

Blackburn Rovers
Goals
1
2
Shots on Target
6
4
Shots off Target
2
4
Offsides
1
0
Fouls
2
0
Yellow Cards
1
0
Red Cards
0
0

Possession
61.7%
38.3%
Play Area
28.3%
50%
21.7%

Scorers
Scott Thirlwell 39
Tim Hapgood 47, 60

Man of the Match
The man of the match was awarded to Tim Hapgood of Blackburn Rovers

Match Ratings
1.Barry Dijkstra (GK)
6
2.Dennis Jeffers (DEF)
6
3.Stuart Mcinnes (DEF)
6
4.Bill Davies (DEF)
6
5.Jamie Gower (MID)
6
6.Jorge Moreira (MID)
6
7.Tony Lecocq (MID)yellow card
5
8.Brian Goldberg (MID)
6
9.Luke Grondin (MID)
7
10.Scott Thirlwell (ATT)goal scored
8
11.David Fowler (ATT)
6
 
12.Brendan Beresford (ATT)
6
13.Eddie May (GK)
6
14.Tiago Jardim (ATT)
0

1.Rio Dichio (GK)
7
2.Diogo Fernandes (DEF)
6
3.Kevin Carrick (DEF)
7
4.Marcello Di Biagio (DEF)
6
5.Simon Mcgovern (DEF)
6
6.Jonathan George (MID)
6
7.Florian Bierhoff (MID)
7
8.Phil Rufus (MID)
6
9.Tim Hapgood (ATT)goal scoredgoal scored
9
10.Ben Finney (ATT)
6
11.Marvin Monk (ATT)
6
 
12.Daniele Formon (MID)
0
13.Leon Keegan (ATT)
0
14.Jamie Walker (DEF)
0