LEICESTER 0 CRYSTAL PALACE 1
Report by Mike King
In what every City supporter was stating "This is a MUST win game" as failure to secure 3 points against Crystal Palace could leave the City cast adrift from the other relegation candidates depending upon the other results.
Manager Pearson made several changes from the starting line up from the previous week's defeat at Man. United, with keeper Schwarzer keeping his place between the sticks (what has Hamer done wrong?), and Konchesky, Mahrez, James, Cambiasso and Nugent coming in to the team. After some good performances coming on from warming the bench, Albrighton was still on the bench and £9million signing Kramaric kept him company.
Pearson's team selection has been the subject of a lot of debate in recent weeks. As Palace have a very tall back 4, perhaps he was expecting Ulloa to put himself about (he's given away more fouls than any other player in the Premiership) in the hope Nugent picked up the scraps.
Since the arrival of manager Pardew at the Palace they have been on a good run of results and on paper look a good team with pace upfront with Gayle and Puncheon. The referee was Lee Mason who never has a good game at the King Power, flashing yellow and red cards like confetti and making poor decisions.
The game started with Palace on the front foot as Mutch's shot from a corner went wide, then Morgan blocked a Zaha drive. As Mahrez was now seeing more of the ball and attacking down the right, it did leave Simpson exposed as Zaha took him on several times. Zaha then clearly dived but the referee failed to caution him.
Schlupp was doing some good work down the left but equally his passing was letting him down. As Mahrez and Schlupp swapped, a Mahrez cross from a good ball by Nugent failed to find a City forward to take advantage. From a Palace corner, Dann and Morgan clashed heads but both were able to continue.
Zaha then crossed the ball from a wide position and as a Palace attacker tried to create a goal, Konchesky at the far post did well to head the ball to safety and also blocked Puncheon's goal bound shot from an angle. At the other end, a Mahrez free kick was flicked on by Nugent but Dann did well to clear the ball to safety.
The City were now on the ascendency, with Cambiasso getting into the game with some excellent headers in mid-field and also some passes out to wide positions. A James corner was met by Morgan but his weak header was easily saved by Speroni. Nugent and Mahrez were causing the Palace defence problems, and a Mahrez cross was met 6 yards out by Nugent whose deft header hit the cross bar and was cleared.
Then a cross to the far post found Schlupp 12 yards out. He controlled the ball very well and then unleashed a ferocious shot that Speroni saved well as the ball was cleared. The Palace fans thought Dann had scored with a header from a Gayle corner at the far post but the effort hit the side netting. Half time arrived with the City probably the better team in the first half.
At the start of the second half, as the tall Sanogo replaced Mutch, and Hangeland replaced Dann, a Sanogo's low shot went into the side netting. At the other end, as City pushed forward for the opening goal, Konchesky received the ball just inside the penalty box and his shot with his right foot went across the goal with Ulloa inches away from tapping the ball into the net.
Wasilewski continues his good form and was on hand to block a Sanogo shot but a couple of minutes later, Palace took the lead. A corner from Palace's left found unmarked Hangeland at the far post, who headed back across goal and the ball was met by Ledley whose header on to the cross bar found its way into the City's net. Is it City's zonal marking at fault or a complete lack of height (other than Ulloa) in the team to deal with set pieces as these are costing City a lot of points, and of course City gain nothing from their own set pieces.
However, City should have equalised minutes later. Ledley's attempted back pass to Speroni was intercepted by Nugent who rounded Speroni and knowing he couldn't score from a narrow angle, tried to set up Cambiasso who in turn attempted to set up Ulloa but the ball ran wide and to safety. The City faithful just couldn't believe such a missed opportunity.
Then a Mahrez cross went across the Palace goalmouth with no one there to convert the chance. Albrighton then replaced the ineffectual Schlupp on the right with Mahrez switching to the left. The City were going all out for the equaliser and Palace were finding it difficult to get out of their own half.
Kramaric replaced Nugent and had a free role as he tried to inject energy into the team and then Vardy replaced Simpson, City reverting to a back 3. Puncheon, who was mostly anonymous, fired in a long range effort that just missed Schwarzer's post. Then Vardy had a chance from a narrow angle but his drive hit the side netting when 2 City players were unmarked around the penalty spot.
Kelly then appeared to up end Kramaric in the penalty area but referee Mason was not impressed. Zaha then went on a run but again fell to the ground easily and the referee kept his yellow card in his pocket. Speroni then saved from another Vardy shot tipping the ball over the bar.
Palace had several raids as the City went for the equaliser and Sanogo fired over when he should have scored. The final whistle went and the 3 points were in the Palace's hands. The "MUST" win game was a huge disappointment and City were by far the better team if only for the many chances created – hi-lighted on MOD later.
I felt sorry for Ulloa who was consistently fouled when the ball was played to him by the Palace defenders but the officials turned a blind eye.
Arsenal on Tuesday – what team will Pearson select? Park the Bus?
The Pearson incident – "No comment!"
CITY: Schwarzer, Konchesky, Morgan (c), Wasilewski, Simpson (Vardy 79), Schlupp (Albrighton 66), Cambiasso, James, Mahrez, Nugent (Kramarić 71), Ulloa. SUBS NOT USED: Hamer, De Laet, Drinkwater, King
PALACE: Speroni, Ward, Dann (Hangeland 46), Zaha, McArthur, Mutch (Sanogo 46), Delaney (c), Ledley, Kelly, Puncheon, Zaha, Gayle (Guedioura 78). SUBS NOT USED: Mariappa, Campbell, Hennessey, Murray
ATTENDANCE: 31,695 (3,267 away) REFEREE: Lee Mason
The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation