Muzzy Izzet snatched a last-gasp equaliser for Leicester to deny Palace a
sixth away win in the Premiership.
Palace appeared to have shrugged off the handicap of playing an hour with 10
men to maintain the best away record in the Premiership.
Marc Edworthy was sent off with just 29 minutes gone for apparently aiming a
sly kick at Robert Ullathorne.
But Michele Padovano's first goal for the Eagles looked enough to see off a
desperately disappointing Leicester who had failed to score in their last two
home games.
Izzet had other ideas however, and with the clock showing 90 minutes were up,
curled a superb right foot shot past Miller's despairing drive from just inside
the area.
Padovano is yet to play a full 90 minutes for Palace but he thought he had
already done more than enough by the time he was substituted a few minutes into
the second half.
His pass allowed Shipperley to get to the byline and pull back a cross which
should have been summarily dispatched by the no-nonsense home defence.
But instead it fell straight to the former Juventus star and he made nomistake
with a right foot shot which beat Keller inside his near post and gave Palace a
sixth win on their travels.
From then on it was heroic backs-to-the-wall defending by Palace, a return to
the battling spirit that Steve Coppell admitted was so sadly lacking
inWednesday's 4-1 loss at West Ham, only for Izzet to pounce to delight the
19,000 crowd.
Both sides had been forced to make several changes to their usual starting
line-ups through a combination of injury and suspension.
Robert Ullathorne made his first appearance for Leicester since his ill-fated
debut for City in last year's Coca-Cola Cup semi-final.
The £600,000 signing from Osasuna broke his ankle after just 11 minutes of the
game with Wimbledon.
He had played several games in the reserves recently but Martin O'Neill has
been forced to give him a Premiership debut due to an injury crisis at Filbert
Street.
Steve Coppell also had his own injury worries, Bruce Dyer, Jamie Smith and
Andy Roberts all suffering from ankle problems.
And with both sides fielding such unfamiliar teams the opening exchanges were
predictably stilted.
The home side created the one chance of any note with three minutes gone,
Elliott's through ball setting Claridge free but his weak left foot shot was
easily saved by Kevin Miller.
Padovano could not have come closer to opening the scoring after 14 minutes of
a poor first half.
Andy Linighan headed down Simon Rodger's corner and Padovano reacted quickest
at the far post but his snap shot came back off the corner of post and bar.
The Italian also had Palace's only other shot of any significance, Keller
gathering comfortably at the near post.
It appeared Palace's hopes of another away win were fading when Edworthy was
dismissed for violent conduct.
The wing-back appeared to aim a kick at Robert Ullathorne after a challenge
and was sent off without hesitation by referee Uriah Rennie.
The sending off seemed to galvanise Leicester into action and they enjoyed
their best passage of play in the half.
Izzet's cross found Claridge unmarked and Miller did well to keep out
hisdownward header, the rebound just evading Fenton following in.
With Palace's forward ambitions restricted by the need to defend in numbers,
Elliott put the space to good use and ventured forward, flashing a 25 yard drive
past Miller"'s right hand post.
But it was Palace who took the lead just before half time, Padovano sending
Shipperley racing clear to the touchline.
His cross should have been easily dealt with by the home defence but it fell
to Padovano and he rifled it past Keller from 12 yards out.
With another 45 minutes to survive with 10 men, Palace set out their stall to
defend and allowed Leicester almost unlimited possession.
Goalscorer Padovano was replaced by Jamie Fullarton to leave Shipperley to
plough a lone furrow up front.
But despite camping in the visitors half Leicester were sadly lacking in the
guile necessary to exploit their numerical advantage.
Fenton dragged a good chance wide while Claridge's attempt to deflect
Elliott's shot fell straight to Miller.
And Palace could have doubled their advantage as they caught Leicester pushing
too many men forward.
Warhurst's through ball beat the offside trap to set Shipperley clear on goal
but Keller stood his ground and saved well with his legs, the rebound hitting a
falling Shipperley and bouncing wide.
But just when it seemed Palace had hung on, a rare moment of brilliance in a
dreadful game levelled the scores.
A short corner routine left Izzet in yards of space and he delivered thekiller
blow that City had been so painfully lacking for the other 89 minutes.
Teams:
Leicester: Keller, Savage, Ullathorne (Wilson 51), Prior,
Elliott, Kaamark, Izzet, Lennon, Campbell (McMahon 77),
Claridge (Watts 62), Fenton.
Subs Not Used: Arphexad, Oakes.
Booked: Fenton.
Goals: Izzet 90.
Crystal Palace: Miller, Edworthy, Gordon, Linighan, Warhurst,
Shipperley, Padovano (Fullarton 53), Veart, Rodger, Hreidarsson,
Emblen (Davies 73).
Subs Not Used: Nash, Zohar, Ginty.
Sent Off: Edworthy (29).
Booked: Emblen, Hreidarsson, Padovano.
Goals: Padovano 43.
Att: 19,191
Ref: U D Rennie (Sheffield).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook