CITY RULE THE PALACE

Cardiff City 1 Crystal Palace 0

Cardiff City win their first back-to-back home games since early 2003.

A team who couldn't defend now get two clean sheets in a row and on-loan Michael Ricketts has gone from 2 years of bench warming and no league goals to cult hero with his second Bluebird first half winner in 5 days. Heady days by our standards and crazy but happy times so let's enjoy.

This was a good win too, over Iain Dowie's Premiership aiming Crystal Palace. The scoreline again 1-0 (should we start using Arsenal's song?) in a style so similar over the last four Championship games. City fight hard and play well (very well at times today) and get a lead in that style but unable to kill the game, it all changes into a tense heartstopper as they fall back and holding on under siege in the closing stages. If the club are urgently seeking more revenue and can't get bigger crowds then selling pacemakers to those of us who are there should make up the shortfall.

The midweek win over Leicester placed City towards mid-table, breathing space over the relegation spots for the first time in almost a year, it breeds confidence. There was a strong feeling the team would raise their game and get a result today, so it proved.

The team were again unchanged, it's very close to the stage where it picks itself. That's not to say it's looks balanced or right. It is improving and gelling, DJ has limited resources and he can't be faulted for what he's getting out of them with City now unbeaten in 5 and progressing. The side were Alexander, Weston-Purse-Loovens-Barker, Cooper-Ledley-Whitley-Koumas, Jerome-Ricketts. Subs were Margetson, Ardley, Cox Lee, Parry.

Today saw the Bluebirds and Palace in broadly similar positions. The last time it was this way was Autumn 2003. It's the in-between bit that could not have been more contrasting. Then, Lennie was at City, his old schoolfriend Steve Kember managed Palace. Neither were getting the best from their sides or heading anywhere but City opted to consolidate and stuck with LL, Palace twisted and came up trumps with Iain Dowie. As we hung one and lost money, Palace dramatically shot to the Premiership and almost survived too, unluckily being sent back to the Championship in the dying moments of the last game. It has however gave them the players and resources to aim for an immediate return.

They have hiccupped to date, losing their opening two games before recovering with 10 points off the next four but midweek reverses at Reading (after they were leading) and today have left them in mid-table. They're undoubtedly much better than that and will be in the final shake up this term barring absolute disasters. City will be grateful they played the Seagulls on a day their main man, England striker, Andy Johnson was missing with injury sustained in midweek.

Palace's side were Kiraly (the dodgy Hungarian keeper with the Primark trakkie bottoms, likely relative of Krusty the Clown) in goals, a back four of Butterfield-Fitz Hall-Darren Ward and Borrowdale. Darren Ward is the Robbie Savage lookalike who seemed to keep out City on his own in a controversial Ninian Park game whilst with Millwall last term. Their midfield were Watson-Riihilati (the player with the maddest personal website) and Michael Hughes (last seen in Cardiff heading down the Millennium Stadium tunnel with Savage) and the M&M strikeforce, that's Morrison and Macken.

The main talk leading into the game was City's disappointing midweek crowd of 9,261. The response was better today with 11,647 but that's playing against one of the more attractive sides the Championship will offer. There's a long way to go for City to attain a hoped-for 13,000 average, if indeed that is possible this term.

However those who were there were delighted with City's effort and particularly so in the opening period which was dominated by the Bluebirds from first whistle to last as well as the many whistles in between from fussy ref Phil Dowd.

The man Ricketts has found a new lease of life in a very short time with City and responded with an excellent display of how to lead the line by causing problems, holding the ball, talking and encouraging Cameron Jerome and giving City a target. He tested Kiraly inside the first three minutes with a far post shot, ten minutes later he was closer again having beaten the offside trap meeting a Rhys Weston chip ahead and unleashed a sizzler from 15 yards that cleared the bar by a fraction. That was topped by a vicious Jason Koumas free-kick from distance that Kiraly had to fingertip over.

The first cheer for a Palace player came from City fans and it was directed to Jobi McAnuff who was sub having just recovered from a knock. He weaved at City fans but refused ayatollah requests. Spoilsport.

Palace were playing poorly and City were exploiting it, the chances and play all heading towards the Grange End, Palace struggling to get over halfway and when they did, there wasn't even a cross or through ball to worry about. Jerome snatched one wide but, on 25 minutes, Ricketts pounced with a comedic goal.

Jerome was causing problems and did well to burst deep in the penalty area at an angle meeting a great diagonal ball from Purse. As he did, he smashed a ball at goal from a tight angle. It flew high to Kiraly, a keeper well remembered in these parts for his flapping and howlers against Wales earlier this year, and he didn't let us down this time either and he seemed to catch the ball comfortably but inexplicably drop it by his near post, Kevin Cooper reacted well, got between keeper and ball and nudged it out to MICHAEL RICKETTS who swept the ball across the empty goal from 5 yards and in off the far post. It was bedlam, City celebrated, Palace were holding an inquest, the keeper had he tired to put his face in his hands with embarrassment would probably have missed it.

It was 33 minutes before Palace managed to get down the City end and in a moment that summed up their half, Watson incurred the wrath of the Grandstand Block F at a corner kick as he appeared to have placed the ball outside the circle. The ref allowed him to take it but he miscued it low and into the side netting. Another one moments later was little better but caused flutters as it ricocheted into the centre before being blasted away.

City had one more moment of panic on 40 minutes after conceding a free-kick central and on the edge of the box but Palace only made us laugh again as Hughes hit the wall, Purse blocked a rebound effort. The last action of the half was Kevin Cooper putting a wide free kick over.

This was City's half without doubt, you could see Palace had quality but they were shockingly poor and unable to put anything together. Kiraly was probably glad to get away from the Grange End especially after being serenaded with, "does your mother buy your kit?".

Half-time: CITY 1 PALACE 0

City restarted the half-time entertainment of fans trying to score with a shot from halfway, it's good to see them trying things. Thanks also to Ali for playing a birthday request for Joe, a lifelong family friend who first too me to Ninian Park and through all my growing up years when my parents worked weekends. It's his fault! Nice one Joe, happy birthday.

The second half was a complete contrast but not before City missed two early chances to have doubled their lead. Within a couple of minutes, Michael Ricketts did well on the right meeting a downward punt with a directional header inside for Jeff Whitley who showed outstanding technique to volley first time from 25 yards as it dropped, his effort was fantastic and it was cruel to see Kiraly comprehensively beaten but the ball smack away off the foot of his post.

Within moments of that, an even better chance was missed. It was Ricketts again causing trouble, this time taking it down the right and sending over a low ball over which skidded off a Palace defender to Cameron Jerome free on 6 yards in front of goal. The ball was rising, Jerome maybe didn't expect it to get through but it was a shock to see him place it over the bar with the goal begging.

Ian Dowie was fuming, Palace were rocking but they were too good to lay down and weakly submit and what followed was a near 40 minute bombardment of City's goal. It wasn't pretty to watch if you were a City fan and probably frayed every blue-blooded nerve end. Admit it, how many times did you stare at the Big Screen clock willing its countdown from 35 minutes out to zero? I think I did it about 80 times!

The first warning shot came as Watson seemed destined to ram the ball home stretching to meet a Morrison low drilled cross with City in disarray, he hit the side netting. It started a steady stream of shots which flew just wide or just over, those that hit the target weren't their best efforts but were expertly taken by Alexander.

It was looking desperate as City feel far too deep with too many back as well. The midfield wasn't flowing or functioning properly as it was ugly at times but we clung on, fought and never gave up and you have to commend everyone for that. It was recognised by the support too who gave them great backing that improved as the game went on.

Palace made it much harder than Leicester because while the Foxes offered little quality and route one hoofing to chase an equaliser, Palace very much tried to get through City by stretching us, moving the ball and taking us on. It was tough work out there.

Dowie made it even tougher by throwing on subs. One was forced as Macken chased a through ball and pulled a hamstring, coming off was the only time I noticed him all game. The other caused City even more problems as Jobi replaced Riihilati on the hour and gave Rhys Weston 30 minutes of torment.

Within moments, City had an incredible escape as Watson burst forward again, his low shot was stopped by Alexander's fingertips, Soares looked certain to force home the loose ball but Alexander bravery saw him pounce at it and just fingetip the effort behind.

For all their relentless pressure, it was probably the only telling stop Alexander had to make on a day when nothing seemed to go right for the Eagles and I'm sure they went home wondering exactly how they lost. Weston didn't help himself, or City, by standing off his man and giving him room to play but he never hides and sticks to his task and got some touches when it mattered.

Another late sub saw Wayne Andrews came on to replace an injured player, Alexander kicking the ball out for treatment. As play resumed, Andrews first touch was to put the ball back out so City had to take a throw in locked deep in their own half when the ball should have been returned to Alexander as is the custom these days. It didn't go down well, there was jostling, Andrews was booked joining 4 of his team-mates who mainly got yellow cards out of frustration.
There were more escapes, Morrison headed wide, Alexander hada couple more stops, shots blazed high as Palace ended up having more the double the efforts at goal than City without having managed a single attempt until into the second half.

There were three minutes more added time, Palace had two more chances but it just wasn't to be and it was broad smiles and celebrations for us. Nice touch by Jobi McAnuff at the end to ayatollah and go to all parts of the ground to salute City fans.

Neil Alexander did very well today and was a justifiable contender for man of the match on a day when Tony Warner scored an own goal for Fulham. He was unlucky but it was still funny. Our defence are getting better with Purse and Loovens striking up an understanding. They coped very well with the onslaught. Rhys found it tougher but is a good help and outlet for City getting out and going forward, it shouldn't be ignored. However it looks a problem but maybe not as much as our midfield.

Jason Koumas can be brilliant or annoyingly uninvolved, today was the latter. He had a chance for glory when he burst through second half but as goal opened up, he put the ball out side instead. City need what he provides and he will be a hero for us. Jeff Whitley is not having a good time at present, he is working hard but just has not been influential enough, again Joe Ledley seemed to work double-time in central midfield to help out. As for Kevin Cooper, the man is an enigma, some maybe unfairly comparing him to Jeff Chandler or Pat Heard pre-game. If you remember them, you'll know the point being made.

Jerome and Ricketts are bleeding into an excellent partnership. We were over relying on Cameron for goals and he needed help, Ricketts has made a huge impact and more. He looked absolutely shattered as DJ gambled in playing him for the entire 90 minutes, a brave choice that could have gone wrong but it was rewarded.

It's such a lovely feeling to go to the pub happy and I did it twice today so even better. Good to meet the London fans in town beforehand but better still in The Napier afterwards to celebrate and see us in the top half of the table. Few would have believed that at the start of the season, nobody would have believed it last term.

We've now beaten Leeds, Leicester and Palace at home and were within a whisker of doing that to Wolves as well. It's tough to watch but that's excellent with everything considered. Who knows? Mabe it'll convince a few more to come next time.

THE COST OF BEING A CITY FAN:

Today:
Ticket: £20
Programme: £ 3
Travel: £ 5
Food/Drink: £25

Total: £53

Season-to-Date: £560