Crystal Palace owe a huge debt of thanks to goalkeeper Kevin Miller after he
kept them in the goalless Premiership draw at Derby.
The Pride Park side should have been at least one goal to the good at
half-time, but Miller produced three outstanding saves to deny Chris Powell and
Deon Burton (twice).
Steve Coppell was down to the bare bones of his squad, losing four players
from his usual first-choice line-up. But his makeshift side held firm, as attack
after attack from Derby failed to make the breakthrough.
Rams boss Jim Smith sorely missed Dean Sturridge and will be hoping his
lay-off is a short one, as his side go into Christmas combat.
Palace had been dealt a massive blow when they lost top scorer Neil Shipperley
to a groin injury.
The Eagles had already lost their Italian duo of Attilio Lombardo and Michele
Padovano to injury - and Marc Edworthy was suspended.
Coppell had to bring in youngsters Itzik Zohar and Sagi Burton as
replacements, and Neil Emblen deputised for Lombardo.
Derby recalled Paulo Wanchope to their starting line-up, and captain Igor
Stimac recovered from a back injury which had kept him out of the game at
Newcastle to replace Dean Yates, who was named as a substitute today.
The hosts totally dominated the opening stages of the game, and only Miller
stood between the Rams and an almost certain four-goal lead at the break.
Derby's possession was consummate, but it wasn't until the 19th minute that
they truly threatened.
Lee Carsley won the ball just inside the Palace half and found Wanchope. The
Costa Rican in turn found Francesco Baiano on the left flank, and Burton should
have done better than shooting straight at Miller from the Italian's pass.
Coppell had paid Baiano the compliment of a man-marker in Jamie Fullarton. But
the ex-Fiorentina man escaped his attentions to volley Stefano Eranio's delicate
lob against the bar in the 24th minute. Chris Powell collected the rebound, but
Miller made a breath-taking parry to avert the danger.
Two minutes later, Emblen should have scored at the other end but shot wide
after Paul Warhurst had found the ex-Wolves man unmarked in the home side's
penalty area.
Miller had to be alert again in the 28th minute when Burton ran through on
goal, and it was only the legs of the Palace No 1 that denied the Jamaican
international.
In the final throes of the first half, Miller again denied Burton when he met
the Derby striker's shot at the edge of the area.
Derby began the second half as they had ended the first - in full control.
But palace eventually broke clear through Dean Gordon in the 51st minute. The
left-back broke down the left but was abruptly halted by a poor Eranio
challenge.
Simon Rodger's perfect free-kick found Andy Linighan, but he could only guide
the ball beyond Mart Poom's right-hand post.
Both sides made a change in the 55th minute. Coppell replaced Israeli
international Zohar with Bruce Dyer, and Derby debutante Steve Elliott was
replaced by Yates.
Fullarton's over zealous marking of Baiano saw the Palace man end up in Martin
Bodenham's note book in the 65th minute. But Darryl Powell could only blast over
the bar with the subsequent free-kick.
Just 60 seconds later, Carsley again produced an excellent cross behind the
Palace defence. But once again Burton missed when he could only volley straight
at Miller.
Burton's lack of fortune in front of goal saw him substituted for Ron Willens
- but not before a generous round of applause accompanied him off the pitch in
the 83rd minute.
Teams:
Derby: Poom, Rowett, C. Powell, D. Powell, Stimac, Wanchope,
Carsley, Elliott (Yates 55), Eranio, Burton (Willems 83), Baiano.
Subs Not Used: Hoult, Kozluk, Hunt.
Crystal Palace: Miller, Gordon, Roberts, Linighan, Warhurst,
Rodger, Burton, Hreidarsson, Emblen, Fullarton, Zohar (Dyer 55).
Subs Not Used: Nash, Quinn, Thomson, Ginty.
Booked: Fullarton.
Att: 26,590
Ref: M J Bodenham (East Looe).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook