PALACE 1 - 2 LEICESTER CITY
Palace reserves failed to make any ground on Barclays Premiership Reserve League South leaders Charlton as they slumped to a 2-1 defeat against Leicester City at Selhurst Park.
The Eagles fielded quite an inexperienced side which included a number of Academy scholars. Rhoys Wiggins made his Barclays Premiership Reserve League debut at left-back with Glenn Wilson and Karim El-Salahi also starting in defence. Tyrone Berry and Ryan Hall both started on the wings and there were places on the bench for Tom Welch, Rikki Banks, Lewis Grabban and Lewis Spence.
It was Palace who had the first shot on goal in the 13th minute as Anthony Danze hit a long range shot wide from the edge of the area. Leicester responded with a chance of their own through Levi Porter, but the young midfielder dragged his shot wide from inside the D.
After 18 minutes Tommy Wright very nearly gave Leicester the lead but his strong shot from just inside the area was brilliantly deflected over by Sam Togwell.
Wayne Andrews went close with an angled drive in the 31st minute but Leicester goalkeeper Peter Akman tipped the ball past the post. Nine minutes later Andrews tested Akman again with a long range and the goalkeeper reacted quickly to block Danze's follow up. The Australian managed to retrieve the ball and set-up Neil Shipperley for a shot but Leicester defender Scott Lycett headed the Palace captain's shot off the line.
Both sides made changes at the break with Lewis Grabban replacing Neil Shipperley for Palace and Louis Dodds replacing Stephen Dawson.
Five minutes into the second-half Leicester took the lead through Welsh international Nathan Blake. Former England international Jason Wilcox got past Wilson on the left and crossed to the far post where Blake headed powerfully past Speroni from six-yards out.
Palace were level within six minutes through defender Sam Togwell. Ryan Hall hit a corner to the far post from the left and the ball ricocheted off a number of players before falling to Togwell who made no mistake from eight-yards out. A minute later Palace could easily have taken the lead through Grabban but his volley from a Berry cross was straight at Akman.
The game was evenly poised and Speroni made a fantastic save from a Wright header in the 63rd minute before Wiggins cleared a cross shot from Porter off the line. In the 65th minute it was Palace who could have scored as Danze smacked a 25-yard shot off the bar which then fell to Grabban who shot wide from inside the area.
Palace made another change in the 69th minute with Tom Welch replacing Andrews. The young midfielder was straight into the action and a good passing move ended with Berry striking a drive from the right inches wide.
The home side went forward in search of a winner but it was Leicester who scored a winner in the 87th minute. Wright found some space on the Palace left and his cross was deflected goalwards before being cleared off the line by Wilson but only to Chris O'Grady who smashed in a powerful shot from just inside the area.
Palace: Speroni; Wilson, Togwell, El-Salahi, Wiggins; Berry, Watson, Danze, R Hall; Shipperley (Grabban h-t), Andrews (Welch 69).
Subs not used: Banks, Starkey, Spence.
Leicester City: Akman; Norvell, Lycett, Sheehan; Wright, Porter, Dawson (Dodds h-t), Wilcox; Blake, O'Grady.
Subs not used: Logan, Payne, Muggleton.
sounded like he did ok and maybe should have scored. hope to see "moore" of him (bad pun i know)
