Man Utd vs. Crystal Palace

[scoreagoal]

On Saturday, Man Utd faces Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. Man Utd hopes to narrow Chelsea’s the six point lead to just three points. Ruud van Nistelrooy back in team’s starting line-up but he needs more time to clean off his long layoff. Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo have been hugely contributing to team’s drive to unseat Chelsea from the top of the Premiership table. Man Utd is the huge favourite (http://www.sportsbetting.com) to beat Crystal Park on Cantona’s Day. What are Crystal Palace’s chances of pulling off a huge upset against Man Utd?

[porkster104]

I think Man U would be able to bag the win against CP... Oh yea, I heard Eric Cantona masks were banned... :) That's hillarious!

[MarieL]

Go Eagles!

[RonaldoD08]

You mean Go Red Devils??? :D

[MarieL]

You mean Go Red Devils??? :D
:shocked: Never!
Those guys don't scare me enough. :D

[RonaldoD08]

:shocked: Never!
Those guys don't scare me enough. :D

you are a tough girl huh...:D ;)

[MarieL]

Sure I am... behind the screen. :rolleyes:

Sorry boys but there's no Crystal Palace forum on this board so I gotta show my support here. I genuinly think CP has a shot this time. ;)

[porkster104]

Well, it's not that I don't like CP but they're also trying their best to stay out of the relegation zone. I think playing against Man U who's on form is not an easy task. Don't mean to be biased! ;) They might score eventually with Andy Johnson, that I won't deny but winning is just not possible IMO.

[MarieL]

Aren't you supposed to be biased? You're a fan after all. ;)
I know it's gonna be quite a battle for CP, but you never know in football. They managed to play 2-2 against Arsenal this season, though they fell apart in the second match. I just so wish CP could stay in Premier league, not only because of the Finns, but because everyone was expecting them to end up at the very bottom before the season. Prove them wrong please!

[porkster104]

Aren't you supposed to be biased? You're a fan after all. ;)
I know it's gonna be quite a battle for CP, but you never know in football. They managed to play 2-2 against Arsenal this season, though they fell apart in the second match. I just so wish CP could stay in Premier league, not only because of the Finns, but because everyone was expecting them to end up at the very bottom before the season. Prove them wrong please!

I am a fan and I don't MEAN to be biased eventhough I am... Hehe! I think staying in the Premiership isn't a problem for them. They have my support for that. I think Iain Dowie did a good job in CP. For now, they're 4 pts ahead of Southampton and I think they have a good chance of remaining in the Premiership.

[MarieL]

I sure hope so!

[Becks]

United will get the win...While CP may have played a 2-2 match against Arsenal, look what we did to Arsenal (both times.) I really don't think CP could beat Manchester unless they have some major luck behind them.

[porkster104]

United will get the win...While CP may have played a 2-2 match against Arsenal, look what we did to Arsenal (both times.) I really don't think CP could beat Manchester unless they have some major luck behind them.

Pretty much DONE! :D I think the 3 pts belong to us already unless some superb miracle happens.

[porkster104]

Crystal Palace v Man Utd

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40868000/gif/_40868811_cpal_manutd_150.gif

Selhurst Park
Saturday, 5 March
Kick-off: 1500 GMT

Crystal Palace will be without Danny Butterfield after the 25-year-old underwent a hernia operation earlier this week.

Palace hope that Darren Powell (calf) and Aki Riihilahti (thigh) could be available for selection as both are responding well to treatment.

Manchester United's Gary Neville has been ruled out after suffering an ankle injury in the win over Portsmouth.

Ruud van Nistelrooy will definitely start for United.

Crystal Palace (from): Kiraly, Boyce, Hall, Sorondo, Borrowdale, Granville, Powell, Routledge, Riihilahti, Leigertwood, Hughes, Soares, Freedman, Johnson, Speroni, Lakis, Andrews, Popovic.

Man Utd (from): Howard, Carroll, Ricardo, P Neville, Silvestre, Brown, Ferdinand, Heinze, O'Shea, Fortune, Ronaldo, Keane, Scholes, Giggs, van Nistelrooy, Smith, Saha, Rooney, Bellion.

# Crystal Palace manager Iain Dowie:
"It must be a big, big game for us. We can look no further than trying to create and cause an upset," said Dowie.

"We are not going into this game as underdogs to try and play with a plan to just contain.

"We are going to try and have a go at them. I would rather get beaten having a go than get beaten 1-0 in the last minute after defending for 90 minutes."

# Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson:
"It may make a difference and that's the point of winning this game, getting to a position where we are only three points behind Chelsea.

"Whether it can affect Chelsea, we will have to wait and see."

BIG-MATCH FACTS

# CRYSTAL PALACE have the comfort of a four point cushion between themselves and the Premiership trap door, going into this home game with the Premiership's form team, Manchester United. Despite their fourth bottom position, the Eagles have lost more games in the top division than any other club (15), and in the Red Devils face a side they've never beaten in the Premiership, who have 18 League wins under their belt this season - which is three fewer that leaders Chelsea.

# Andy Johnson has scored 18 of his sides 32 League goals, and stands just one behind Arsenal's Thierry Henry in the Premiership scorers chart. He's converted nine of the 11 penalties Palace have been awarded this season - more than any other club in the highest League. After this, a visit to Chelsea lies in store, followed by a home match with Middlesbrough, a trip to Everton and a vital six pointer with Norwich at Selhurst Park.

# The Eagles last enjoyed a home League victory over the Red Devils 14 years ago, when they won 3-0 on 11 May 1991.

# MANCHESTER UNITED have the opportunity to put more pressure on Chelsea. Victory from this afternoon kick off will lift the Red Devils to within three points of the leaders, whose match at Norwich doesn't get underway until 1715 hours GMT. Chelsea have already posted the longest winning sequence in the Premiership this season of eight games, but United are on longest current such run of six games. Like Chelsea, the eight times Premier League champions are also looking to equal their top flight club record of six successive away wins in a single season.

# Sir Alex Ferguson's side were the only top League outfit to go through February with a 100% record. They had a better return than Chelsea, who were the most successful Premiership club in each of the four previous months. The Old Trafford giants will also be looking for a sixth consecutive away League win, to put them in the right frame of mind for Tuesday's Champions League match at AC Milan, when a 0-1 first leg deficit must be overhauled.

# This is United's third meeting this season with Palace. First Louis Saha broke his seasonal scoring duck as the Red Devils won a fourth round Carling Cup tie at Old Trafford 2-0, then two vintage strikes from Paul Scholes were the highlight of the 5-2 victory in this season's reverse fixture, when United could afford the luxury of a missed penalty from Wayne Rooney. It gives Ferguson's outfit the chance of a third 'double' over the Eagles in the Premiership, and seventh against them since League hostilities began in 1922.

Referee:
Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)

SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM

CRYSTAL PALACE
Club stats
Fixtures
17th 25 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's games: 16th
Lowest could fall: 17th

# Won 20, lost 20 and drawn 10 of the 50 League games played under Iain Dowie.
# Gone 17 Premiership games since recording back to back League victories.
# Not lost a top flight match in which ahead at half time - won all four (v West Brom h, Birmingham a, Villa h and Birmingham h).
# Conceded 13 times in the last 15 minutes of top League games this season. Only West Brom have let in more goals in the last quarter-hour (14).

# Won three of the last four home top flight matches, keeping clean sheets in all three.
# Suffered seven League defeats in front of their home fans - more than any other club in the highest division.
# Scored 13 goals in home League games. West Brom are the only side with fewer home goals in the Premiership (11).

MANCHESTER UNITED
Club stats
Fixtures
2nd 62 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's games: 2nd
Lowest could fall: 2nd

# Bidding for a seventh successive Premiership win. Won the last six against Liverpool (a), Aston Villa (h), Arsenal (a), Birmingham (h), Manchester City (a) and Portsmouth (h).
# Unbeaten in 17 League outings.
# Won 14 and drawn three since losing 2-0 at Portsmouth on 30 October.
# Won 18 Premiership matches. Only Chelsea (21) have won more.
# Lost only twice in the top division (both away to Chelsea and Portsmouth). Only Chelsea, with one defeat, have lost less often.
# Conceded 17 top flight goals. Only Chelsea have shipped fewer - eight.
# Kept 15 clean sheets at the top League level. Only Chelsea have managed more (21).
# Top of the Premiership's "Last Six Current Form" table with a 100% 18 points.
# Not lost a top flight game this season in which they've opened the scoring. Won 17 and drawn two of the 19.
# Scored 13 goals in the last 15 minutes of Premiership games this term, making them the most dangerous side in the last quarter-hour of top flight matches.
# Picked up as many as 62 points after 28 matches in a Premiership season only twice before, and once since the Premier League was reduced to 20 clubs, in 2000/01.
# Played more League and Cup games than any other top flight club this season (47).

# Seeking a 10th away game without defeat.
# Won seven and drawn two in all competitions away from home, since losing 3-0 against Fenerbahce in Turkey on 8 December in the Champions League.
# Won the last five in a row on the road.
# Claimed 15 points out of 15 away from Old Trafford, keeping clean sheets in four of the five games.
# Not lost in eight away League duels, since the 2-0 loss at Portsmouth on 30 October.
# Won 28 away points. Only Chelsea (35) and Arsenal (29) have picked up more on their Premiership travels.
# Lost only twice on the road in the uppermost League. Chelsea have lost once away from home.
# Conceded 10 goals on their League travels. That's double as many as Chelsea, who are the only club to have shipped fewer away from home.

KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES

CRYSTAL PALACE
Squad profiles

# Andy JOHNSON lies third in the scorers list for Premiership players with 18 League and Cup goals for Palace, five behind HENRY and two short of Jermaine DEFOE of Tottenham.

MANCHESTER UNITED
Squad profiles

# Paul SCHOLES has scored three goals in his last two Premiership appearances against Crystal Palace (in 1998 and earlier this season).
# If he lines up at kick off, Roy KEANE will be making his 300th League start for Manchester United.
# If selected in the 11, Wes BROWN will be making his 100th Premiership start for the Red Devils.

THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE:
Manchester United 5-2 Crystal Palace
18 December 2004 - Ref: Steve Dunn
Man United scorers: Scholes 22, Smith 35, Boyce 48 og, Scholes 49, O'Shea 90
Palace scorers: Granville 27, Kolkka 46

HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
League: Palace 6 wins, Man United 19, Draws 6
Prem: Palace 0 wins, Man United 6, Draws 1

HEAD TO HEAD at Palace
League: Palace 4 wins, Man United 7, Draws 4
Prem: Palace 0 wins, Man United 2, Draws 1

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4300423.stm

[MarieL]

Pretty much DONE! :D I think the 3 pts belong to us already unless some superb miracle happens.
Heyyy! The points belong to no one until the game is played. ;)
And I'm sure the miracle happens just to shut you 2 up. :D

[porkster104]

Heyyy! The points belong to no one until the game is played. ;)
And I'm sure the miracle happens just to shut you 2 up. :D

Chillz MarieL! Just kidding there... :p Ok ok... I'll give it to u. May the best team win! :thumbsup:

[porkster104]

Well, Man U might've ended their title race here... Sigh~~ :( Anyway, good defensive play by CP. I gotta admit they defended real well. I could see that Iain Dowie was only playing for a draw. Man U had so many chances but it's just not their day. :eek: I'm still in shock as a miracle did happen for them. Damn!

[MarieL]

Hahaha, what happened to those 3 points? :D And CP even made it easier for you with that red card. Too bad Aki still couldn't play, you would have lost for sure then. But he was commentating the 2nd half with the Finnish commentator and that's almost better. He's a verbal genious.
I'm so happy! :silly:

[porkster104]

Hahaha, what happened to those 3 points? :D And CP even made it easier for you with that red card. Too bad Aki still couldn't play, you would have lost for sure then. But he was commentating the 2nd half with the Finnish commentator and that's almost better. He's a verbal genious.
I'm so happy! :silly:

Congratulations! I admit we had to share the points. My apologies! It was just not Man U's day... Cheerios MarieL! :D Becks!!! How could this have happened? :depressed

[porkster104]

http://www.teamtalk.com/Images/31776.jpg

Roy Keane had a goal wrongly disallowed for offside against 10-man Crystal Palace as Manchester United's bid to significantly close the gap on Premiership leaders Chelsea faltered in a 0-0 draw at Selhurst Park.

The result left United five points adrift of the leaders with Jose Mourinho's side set to play one of their two matches in hand at Norwich in the day's late kick-off.

Keane's effort midway through the first half should have stood but was ruled out by referee Mark Clattenburg after a linesman's erroneous flag.

Ryan Giggs swung in a left-wing 20th-minute free-kick and, as the Palace defence charged out, Keane crept round the back to put the ball in the net only for the effort to be disallowed.

Palace goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly also saved well from close range from Ruud van Nistelrooy before the half ended and the home side were doing well to hold on after the break but their cause was not helped by three minutes of rashness from Vassilis Lakis.

Having been booked for a foul on Giggs the Greek chopped down Keane in the 64th minute and was sent off.

Wayne Rooney came off the bench for Alan Smith with 15 minutes to go and almost immediately had claims for a penalty turned down but United could not find a way through despite bombarding the Palace goal.

Arsenal moved to within two points of United after a Thierry Henry hat-trick in a 3-0 win at home to Portsmouth.

The Gunners dominated the first half but saw their well-publicised injury worries increase when Pascal Cygan had to be taken off to be replaced by Lauren.

However, it was the substitute who had a hand in the opening goal after racing down the right in the 39th minute and crossing for Henry to take a touch and slot into the bottom corner.

Things got easier for Arsenal after the break as Henry latched onto Patrick Vieira's pass in the 53rd minute to chip over the advancing Kostas Chalkias for his second goal of the match.

Aiyegbeni Yakubu almost reduced the deficit from close range 20 minutes from the end but his effort rolled wide of the post before Henry completed his hat-trick with an 85th-minute free-kick.

Liverpool's Champions League qualification hopes were dealt a shattering blow in a 1-0 defeat against Newcastle at St James' Park.

After a goalless first half Frenchman Laurent Robert curled a 70th-minute free-kick from left angle of the penalty area, with Scott Carson - on debut after injury ruled out Jerzy Dudek - managing to get only a fingertip on the strike.

Southampton's battle against relegation was boosted after a 1-0 victory over Tottenham, which put them within two points of 17th-placed Palace.

After a goalless first half Nigel Quashie, a transfer window signing from Portsmouth, broke the deadlock.

Substitute Mikael Nilsson's cross was headed home by the Scotland international from six yards in the 51st minute.

Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy excelled for Charlton but they still could not break the deadlock in a 0-0 draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage.

http://www.teamtalk.com/teamtalk/News/Story_Page/0,7760,2483_337191,00.html

:depressed

[MarieL]

Why so depressed? You only lost 2 points. True, that might cost you the title... My heart just bleeds. :rolleyes:

[porkster104]

Why so depressed? You only lost 2 points. True, that might cost you the title... My heart just bleeds. :rolleyes:

The title IS our goal. Why not depressed? Please spare me the sarcasm... :(

[MarieL]

Okay, I'm sorry. It's just that while supporting teams fighting against relegation I've kind of lost all sympathy towards title contenders.

[porkster104]

Okay, I'm sorry. It's just that while supporting teams fighting against relegation I've kind of lost all sympathy towards title contenders.

It's alright. I'm not offended. Just kinda sad... I understand and I really gotta admit CP put up a good fight. ;)

[nachi88]

Its two points that should have not been dropped. Anyways, now lets pray that Norwich beats Chelsea. :D

[RonaldoD08]

Its two points that should have not been dropped. Anyways, now lets pray that Norwich beats Chelsea. :D

chelsea beat norwich though and they seem to be going for the title...:(