Crystal Palace are still waiting for their first home victory in the
Premiership this season after being outplayed by a vibrant Leicester at Selhurst
Park today.
Leicester were so much on top for most of the match that manager Martin
O'Neill must have wondered why his team had won by only three goals, courtesy of
two from Emile Heskey and one from Matt Elliott.
Palace did have a few half-chances but with only six matches left to play they
seem doomed to relegation.
Leicester were dominant from the start ,and Greek international Theo Zagorakis
gave notice of their superiority with a rasping, long-range shot which Kevin
Miller did well to tip over the bar.
Then Heskey might have scored after 17 minutes when he cut in from the left
but with only Miller to beat he dragged his shot across the face of the goal.
Palace battled hard with little success - but they might have scored twice in
the closing minutes of the first half.
First Paul Warhurst had a firs- time shot in the 34th minute which struck
goalkeeper Kasey Keller and rebounded to safety, and then Attilio Lombardo, the
Palace player-manager, lost control at the vital moment with only the Leicester
goalie in front of him three minutes before the interval.
Leicester had been commanding the play with little reward but then in the
final minute of the first half they took the lead. Steve Guppy sent Graham
Fenton away, and from his cross Heskey forced the ball home from close range.
The goal gave Leicester added confidence for the second half, and Elliott
might have put them two up with a fierce free-kick which Miller could only parry
in the 48th minute.
Palace brought on Bruce Dyer and Sasa Curcic in place of Patricio Billio and
Michele Padovano after 55 minutes, but Leicester were still the superior side -
and in the 59th minute they went further ahead with a superb goal from Heskey.
Guppy sent the ball across from the left; Robbie Savage headed it down, and
Heskey scored with a magnificent volley which gave Miller no chance.
Fifteen minutes later, Leicester scored a third after a goalmouth scrummage.
Savage, one of the best players on the field, drilled in a low shot which was
blocked. But the ball came back to Elliott on the right of the penalty area, and
he drove home through a crowded goalmouth with Miller probably unsighted.
It was a clear-cut victory for Leicester, who now move back into the top half
of the table. But for Palace it looks as if their season is coming to a
despairing end.
Teams
Crystal Palace: Miller, Edworthy, Gordon, Lombardo,
Warhurst (Bent 75), Padovano (Curcic 55), Rodger, Smith, Ismael,
Fullarton, Billio (Dyer 55).
Subs Not Used: Nash, Hreidarsson.
Booked: Billio.
Leicester: Keller, Izzet, Lennon, Heskey, Savage (Wilson 81),
Kaamark, Prior, Elliott, Fenton (Marshall 81), Guppy,
Zagorakis (Parker 72).
Subs Not Used: Walsh, Arphexad.
Goals: Heskey 45, 60, Elliott 74.
Att: 18,771
Ref: A B Wilkie (Chester-le-Street).
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