Championship match report: CARDIFF CITY 0 Crystal Palace 0

BBC Online show 2 minutes highlights of every Championship game, if they manage to scrape out 30 seconds from Cardiff City’s turgid 0-0 with Crystal Palace, it would have to include interviews. This was a shocker. Cardiff disjointed and clueless from first whistle to last managed to test the Palace keeper just once in the entire 90 minutes and had it not been for two inspired second half saves by Tom Heaton as the injury ravaged South Londoners looked the only side capable of finding the net, City would have recorded a shock defeat and have had few complaints.

Positives? Heaton, Hudson, Blake (back at centre half) and McNaughton played well enough and Lee Snail-or went off with a knock. You’ll notice not a single midfielder or forward is named, enough said. The only other positive is City remained 2^nd, kept a clean sheet and collected a point, we had to be grateful for small mercies.

Problems? Every where I feckin’looked. No cohesion, no discernable pattern of play, energy lacking, no creativity or invention … and then there were the really bad aspects!

Too many players were found wanting. Naylor looked poor again in too many moments. Maybe 4 years coasting it in the lesser Scottish wilderness with Celtic has blunted him but Palace became the latest side to create just about everything on his side of the pitch although, in fairness, Wilfried Zaha, up against him looks a very useful prospect. Adam Matthews, lambasted by Jones and bombed from the side after 1 outing at Ipswich, must have his head in his hands watching Naylor getting regular football and no criticism by contrast.

Jason Koumas started and proceeded to show us magic, he looked invisible on the pitch all night. The player still looks short of fitness and, at present, a shadow of the player we loved last time we saw him in a City shirt. I honestly don’t think he made a single telling pass or touch or flick all night.

Seyi Olifinjana was welcomed back but was another who did not look fully fit and showed his frustrations, he could easily have been red carded in the second half for flicking out a boot at a Palace opponent. We all know how he can break up play but on a night where he needed to produce intensity and drive, he appeared to be continually holding up play in City’s midfield.

Peter Whittingham, allowed to take and waste every set piece, was dropped into centre midfield and spent the whole evening trying to dink a ball over the top for Bothroyd. I’ve had more fun in a dentist’s waiting room than watching that.

None of the midfielders got close to the strikers, let alone make a run beyond them and all too often, Cardiff had too few players in and around the box which helped make it easier for Palace on a night when City’s tactics were as suspect as their commitment.

Andy Keogh once again looked shocking. No partnership whatsoever with Jay Bothroyd, I’m assuming he was instructed to play behind Jay and nowhere near him. Either way, take his Millwall winner out of the equation, and he’s really looking a poor signing. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry when I saw him beaten in a 25 yard sprint against 37 year old Edgar Davids who played well and surprised me by how small and diminutive he was.

With all that on show – you can add in Burke running his nuts off but failing to produce and Jay holding, turning away and circling but getting nowhere – and a sub’s bench offering no real options to the unfolding problems, City actually succeeded following Saturday’s poor display in the win over Millwall with an even worse one.

It looked like a home banker and I was even more confident of a City win at kick-off with news that Gabor Gyepes and Steve McPhail were dropped to the bench, Blake was moved to centre back, Olifinjana was back from injury and Koumas was starting alongside him in a line up that read Heaton; McNaughton-Hudson-Blake-Naylor; Burke-Koumas-Olifinjana-Whittingham; Keogh-Bothroyd.

Cardiff’s injury problems were more than matched by Pal-arse who were missing 8 key players. David Wright, Darren Ambrose, Sean Scannell, Anthony Gardnet and Lee Hills were already on the treatment table but joined by Jon Obika and Adam Barrett who were both injured in the weekend’s 5-0 hammering at Derby, a result affected by an early red card to powerful Everton loan striker James Vaughan who was also absent starting his 3 match ban. Before 20 minutes had elapsed, they had lost another two as well with former Roger Johnson attempted assassinator Claude Davis pulling a hamstring and Neil Danns crocked after jumping for a corner against Tom Heaton.

Palace had lost all 4 previous aways without scoring and conceding 12 and looked limited with two banks of four playing deep and playing very close together yet Cardiff had no idea how to get past, through or around them and once the visitors realised how limited City were, they attacked with invention.

Cardiff started brightly but little did we know that the highlight of that spell - Tom Heaton catching the corner, crocking Danns, punting the ball downfield to see Burke close in on goal and hit a shot that was too close to Speroni who blocked it with ease - would be Cardiff’s only worthwhile attacking moment of the night.

The half was as drab as the dull night and drizzly swirling run, Cardiff becoming more and more laboured producing little for the 22,000 crowd (250 or so from Palace) to sign about.. Many of the crowd near me were taking their entertainment from watching a lone bat flying around the stadium.

Tom Heaton had to save smartly from Own Garvan’s first half header (yep, from a cross after Naylor was left behind) but excelled second half with his stops from Bennett and an incredible save to beat out Counago’s far post header from 3 yards blocking on the line (And, yep, both those headers were from crosses on Naylor’s side as well). A couple of crosses zipped in or across City’s box but Hudson, Blake and McNaughton dealt with them as, yep, they were all from the left.

Dave Jones had 7 subs but none you fancied to change the game – however surely Rae or Wildig should have had a chance at the expense of Koumas or Olifinjana??? - so his only move was to give the otherwise ignored Paul Quinn the final 10 minutes as Naylor limped off.

The frustrated and quiet crowd were remarkably patient and tried to lift City with support but found themselves reduced to pointless appeals for penalties and free-kicks, mostly for Jay falling about and hacked off with a Premier League ref (Steve Tanner) who gave Jay and Burke two harsh yellow cards.

Cardiff have now put together four poor back-to-back performances and if they continue in this vein, no way will they remain in the Top Two positions. They need to regroup and put in a massive, better effort at Barnsley on Saturday ahead of a two week international break.

Right now, I’m pleased with our league position but what I’m watching really is just not good enough.

Chopra back tonight?

Cardiff City's list of missing big hitters may finally see a reduction as the players start to return to fitness and full training.

Alhtough rumours have been about the return of Seyi Olinfinjana for some time, he may miss out again this evening and return for the visit to Barnsley on Saturday. Oli has been out since a foot injury sustained in the Hull home win on September 11th.

However there is speculation that Michael Chopra may be on the bench for tonight's hom,e clash with Crystal Palace. Chops was the victim of an unpunished appalling challenge in the home demolition of Doncaster on August 21st. At the time, he was reported as likely to be out for 2 to 3 months but he has responded very well to treatment and is back in full training. If not in the squad tonight, Chops is almost certain to be in the Barnsley squad on Saturday.

Of the others, Craig Bellamy is unlikelyto be risked in this week's games as he is still not back in full, impact training although there is a small chance he could feature at Barnsley. If he misses out altogether, that may rule him out for Wales Euro'2012 double header with Switzerland and Bulgaria next week. City fans - and management - would be concerned to see him in those games having not played for City since August 28 and having played no football this month other than Wales defeat in Montenegro at the startb of the month, a game which appears to have accelerated his problems. Cardiff have a heavy October fixture list and will need Bellamy for that so 2 Wales games in 5 days before it is a real worry given his problems.

The other key players - Chris Riggott and Danny Drinkwater - remain on schedule to be considered for Cardiff's first game after the international break which is Bristol City at CCS on October 16th.

Thankfully, City have no new problems after the weekend win over MillwaIl and will be strong favourites to complete a South London double with tonight's visit from Crystal Palace.

If Cardiff think they have problems, they can think again. Palace will have 8 key players absent and have lost all 4 away trips this season failing to score and conceding 12. Home banker then ... it had better be!

CARDIFF CITY's march to the play-offs was strengthened with a 2-1 Saturday lunchtime Sky tv win at Crystal Palace. The game was no classic, City had to ride their luck under aerial bombardment and a spirited fight by the hosts but created the clearer chances and triumphed with two well taken goals by Gabor Gyepes in 4 minutes and Chris Burke on 67 after The Bluebirds had been pegged back earlier in the 2nd half.

City still had no Ledley, no Hudson, no Gerrard, no McNaughton and, for two games including this, no Bothroyd the talisman either as he started a 2 match ban.

The makeshift defence of Quinn-Blake-Gyepes-Capaldi therefore continued and up front, a surprise as Kelvin Etuhu after injury for his first appearance since the 4-4 Xmas calamity at Peterborough - City needed the height with Gyepes and Quinn being the only other tall players in the side. A surprise alongside him too as Chopra was preferred tom McCormack even though the latter had done well in his previous two outings.

Cardiff made the perfect start. First corner of the match was hit low by Whittingham, McPhail back-hell flicked the ball into the danger zone and GYEPES was first to react, superbly placing the ball home low and in off a post. His third Cardiff goal but first of the season.

After that, rather than storm the Palace, their front guard reacted and took the game to Cardiff. With a telling and visible lack of height, Palace hit the penalty area early and often with high balls sent in from every direction. The Eagles flew higher than The Bluebirds in the air and it was a case of hanging on. Goalmouth scrambles, Marshall having to punch away, a succession of corner kicks, Gyepes and Blake battling gamely at the heart of defence and City not giving themselves much relief as breaks too easily broke down.

Palace came closest as Hills looped header came off the bar with Marshall beaten, Darren Ambrose denied by the reactions of Marshall to push away his low shot, last gasp challenges and some luck.

However City showed more quality and really should have doubled their lead before the interval as Chops' flick sent Etuhu clear but he took a touch too much and his shot was smothered by Speroni.

Back after the break, Palace continued their aerial assault but not before Chris Burke was desperately unlucky to see his dipping 25 yarder drop just a couple of inches over the bar. Pressure was less intense but still constant as City stayed well organised although Etuhu - surely this season's Eddie Johnson? - fluffed another clear opening as he leant back and blazed over after strong build up play.

Palace had a strong penalty claim as Capaldi bundled over Stern John but the post-match hysteria seemed to overlook City won a free-kick for Calvin Andrew impeding David Marshall getting to the corner kick.

A few minutes later and Andrew did it again but City's marking was slack and HILL met a corner kick unchallenged at the near post and headed home. I still don't know who should have been marking him.

That was no more than Palace deserved and you started to fear the worst for City but this side possess quality up front and are always capable of conjuring something. A harsh free kick was awards 40 yards out midway through the 2nd half, Whitts lifted it to the box, Quinn nodded back and the rest was CHRIS BURKE magic as he chested the ball wide of a defender and fired home on his right foot across goal leaving Speroni with no chance.

This time, there was no way back for the home side who, thanks to 10 points lost in administration, find themselves stuck in the bottom three instead of mid-table and looking likely to drop a division.

For City, the result lifted them to 4th and Swansea and Leicester's failure to win later in the day kept them there. More importantly, City maintained their 5 point gap over play-off chasers and have a home game in hand with just 7 matches to go. The next three matches are telling - the game in hand at home to 6th placed Leicester on Tuesday, the South Wales battle with 5th placed Swansea on Tuesday and away at 3rd placed Nottingham Forest on Easter Monday. A massive week ahead then.

Taxing Matters

It is with a little irony that as the UK is apparently just coming out of recession (even if it bloody doesn't feel like it), football appears to be heading that way. These are tough times for the game and its followers.

The January transfer window saw only a handful of clubs indulge and only £40M was spent, 12 months earlier it was more than 4 times that figure but closer to home, there are those clubs - including my beloved Cardiff City - facing a battle with the tax man. It comes to something when we can't enjoy a 6-0 win at Bristol City becuase of the antics of Peter Ridsdale next day with his monstrous attempt to bury bad news after good. How that has rebounded in him.

Hardest hit at present are Crystal Palace who entered adminsitration last week and lost 10 points moving overnight from play-off contenders to relegation battlers. This because they could not meet HMRC demands.

HMRC, the biggest petitioners for Winding ups in the courts due to unpaid tax bills have lost their respect and leniency towards football and its club, a legacy of years of problems dealing with them and cutting deals. The blind eye is being turned no more.

Four other clubs are known to be in trouble with them - the exact figure is likely to be many more - but followers of Notts County, Portsmouth and Accrington Stanley - are affected as much as Cardiff's.

The game has got itself in such a mess that West Ham confessed to over £100M of debt, Manchester United a crippling 7 times that amount.

However, fans notably are turning on their clubs and owners and bnot blaming the tax people at all. They know company directors have run the game of football in a reckless manner and without due care and responsibility. They have dug themselves into the hole, nobody else.

If the upshot of this carnage is that football matches what's going on is society and is run properly in future, then that may be something worth celebrating. It will ceratinly bring the game back to the people. Until then, expect a lot more pain .

Chops attacked at the Toon

This morning's Daily Mirror are reporting that Cardiff's Michael Chopra was attacked by a Newcastle fan whilst watching them on Wednesday night.

It's claimed the striker was asked to have his photo taken with a home fan who then turned, asked his "What's it like to play for Sunderland?" and spat in his face. Chops apparently hit the man back and the fan was removed.

Chopra said: “He spat in my face and I did what I had to do to defend myself. He was bang out of order. He asked me for a photo and I agreed to that but then he started videoing me and asking me why I had played for Sunderland and what it was like to play for them. He spat in my face and called me names and then I had to get him off me. I don’t know if anyone from the club got hold of him after that but I did not involve the stewards or the police. The fan was completely out of order. All I did was get him off me."

Premiership midfielders linked to Cardiff

Cardiff City are being strongly linked with loan moves for Stephen Reid of Blackburn Rovers and/or Ben Watson of Wigan, ironically players who have had less than successful loan spells recently with fellow Championship side Queens Park Rangers.

Reid, a 28 year old Eire international with 22 caps, was signed by Blackburn from Millwall for £2.5M in 2003 and has started 90 Premiership games scoring 6 goals, he is noted for powerful shooting. However ihe has not played in the Premiership since Sept'2008 and had only 3 Carling Cup appearences for the Ewood Park club this term and injuries have seen him drop down the pecking order. At QPR, Reid started once and was used a sub once in late November.

Ben Watson, dubbed the Beckham of Peckham for his set piece flair, is seen as surplus by Roberto Martinez at Wigan after arriving there last January from Crystal Palace for £2M. He joined QPR, ahead of Cardiff, and has started 16 Championship games scoring twice, his tally would have been greater hadhe not earned 2 successive red cards. His loan spell has just ended with mixed reviews and it is believed Dave Jones has made enquiries already.

The Incredible Twists and Turns of the Championship

City's win at West Brom depleted of key resources was a fantastic result and performance, arguably Dave Jones' best ever since we don't turn over the top clubs on their own patch under his watch.

Unexpected as it was, I don't think any of us will ever learn that the only predictable in the Championship is that it will be unpredictable!

How can, for example, anyone legislate for Middlesbrough stuffing QPR 5-1 away last night then getting pasted 3-0 at home by Blackpool last night, the same Blackpool who themselves faltered at home on the weekend.

Or Crystal Palace getting dismantled at home by Doncaster last Saturday then doing the same themselves at Reading last night.

Or Leicester, who effortlessly moved into 3rd spot, getting dicked twice in 4 days as they just have.

I suppose that as long as our never ending inconsistency is not quite as inco0nsistent as others, then we're in with a definite shout!

Cardiff stay 3rd after QPR drop more home points

QPR must have fancied their chances of a haul to the summit after three successive four goal hauls going into two successive home games but having lost 2-1 at home to Leciester last Friday night, they faltered again this time being held 1=1 by Crystal Palace at Loftus Road.

The game, rearranged after a postponement last month, saw both sides convert a penalty and a host of missed chances and superb saves by both keepers.

The season is now a third complete and this is how it looks after tonight's game:

Championship After 15 Games
		GD	Points
1	Newcastle	13	30
2	West Brom	16	28
3	Cardiff	15	27
4	Leicester	6	27
5	Bristol City	4	25
6	QPR	11	24
7	Middlesbrough	6	24
8	Blackpool	6	24
9	Preston	3	24
10	Nottm Forest	3	24
11	Swansea	1	22

Cardiff/Crystal Palace Race Row Dies Down

It is a shame that a race row was the left overs from Saturday's meaty 1-1 draw between Cardiff City and Crystal Palace.

At final whistle, Michael Chopra was clearly angry and upset, Crystal Palace's Shaun Derry appeared to be the object of his attentions in a pitchside kerfuffle which involved other players and continued in the players tunnel and dressing room area.

There were subsequent hints that Chops was subjected to a racial slur - others that he may have been taunted about his marriage - but fellow striker Jay Bothroyd told media that Chopra, whose father is Indian, was racially abused. That was backed up later by a club official but hotly disputed by the visitors.

However when the referee - who missed most things on the day - later said he saw or heard nothing, then it boiled down to one player's word against another. (The ref cleared the scene at final whistle so wasn't around to see or hear anything).

The heat turned up today as Crystal Palace used their official website to issue a denial - saying they know their players wouldn't do such a thing - Dave Jones responded by asking them to retract it even though, in truth, it was City who had strated the ball rolling and had put it in the public domain.

By this afternoon, Cardiff City issued an official statement that they wished to draw a line under it. It's unlikely any enquiry would have got anywhere but Neil Warnock responded by again being angry allegations were made and saying that he was not surprised it was dropped.

I guess we'll never know what went on but, following on from Roger Johnson being hospitalised last season and a war of words at that time between the clubs, there is clearly no love lost between City and Palace at present.

Video Highlights - Cardiff City 1 Crystal Palace 1

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8313592.stm

Pain in the Neck - McPhail out for Palace game

The official Cardiff City website (www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk) has this evening confirmed that midfielder Steve McPhail - who has been in prime form recently - will be absent for Saturday's home encounter against Crystal Palace due to recovery after an op to remove a growth in his neck as hinted on this blog early today.

McPhail told the official site that,"I knew I had to have the operation to remove a growth in my neck ... and expected to be out for 10 days or so, which would have meant I was available to play against Palace but the operation took much longer than expected because the growth was much bigger than they thought. A sample has been sent away for tests, but I'm told there's nothing to worry about". However McPhail hopes to return for the game against Coventry City on Tuesday.

Cardiff now hope to call up Joe Ledley but he missed Wales' World Cup games with a hip injury.

Cardiff injury doubts for Saturday

A fortnight's break due to World Cup action has Cardiff City fans chomping at the bit to return to domestic football and a group of players wanting to build on their prime form following demolition jobs over Derby (6-1 at home) and Watford (4-0 away).


It would be understandable if Dave Jones is desparate to retain the same starting eleven used in both games but doubts persist over two players.


In midfield, news has emerged that Steve McPhail had a neck operation last week and, at present, still has the stitches inserted. He has been training and wants to play but it may be touch and go. If he is absent, Joe Ledley would be expected to start but he is a doubt too having missed Wales' games with a hip injury.


Meantime, at the back, Mark Kennedy is a doubt as well with continued hamstring twinges which has plagued him all season. However City have cover there as SuperKev - Kevin McNaughton - is ready to belatedly start the season and has successfully come through two reserve outings during the break.


Cardiff City are at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday and then Coventry City next Tuesday.

Reserve Friendly: Bristol Rovers 1 Cardiff City 1

Miguel Comminges - City scorer today

Despite dominating from beginning to end, Cardiff City had to accept honours even if a friendly against Bristol Rovers at their Memorial Ground this afternoon after conceding an 89th minute penalty.

Cardiff took a mix of Academy kids and pros in the shape of Enckleman, Capaldi, Taiwo, Scimeca and the returning Celtic duo of McNaughton and McCormack.

City opened their scoring in the 21st minute via a Miguel Comminges drive and should have got more but have to reflect on a series of superb saves, near and bad misses as well as hitting the woodwork.

Enckleman was a virtual spectator but was left to pick the ball out of his net as Duffy fired that late penalty past him.

The best news is that all players came through unscathed and surely McNaughton and McCormack will be in the squad for the weekend home game against Crystal Palace.

"Handy" Ledley faces up to bandaged football

CARDIFF CITY star Joe Ledley faces playing in the next few weeks wearing a cast ... but he's used to it having done it last season.


Then it was a finger dislocation in a home game with Crystal Palace. This time it was a holiday mishap as Joe slipped in Paris on a mini break with his girlfriend as Ctiy players were given 4 days off last week.


Ledley's cast is being prepared and, with referee approval, he will wear it when Wales play Russia on Wednesday night at Millennium Stadium.

'No goal' ref taken off officiating Cardiff City tomorrow

Ref Rob Shoebridge - at the centre of controversy over the weekend for failing to spot an obvious and perfectly good Crystal Palace goal at Bristol City - has been 'punished' with a fortnight's rest and removed from being in charge of Cardiff's encounter at Plymouth Argyle tomorrow night.

In an extraordinary incident, Palace scored with a shot a couple of yards inside goal but which rebounded from the back of the net. Palace players celebrated, Bristol's held an inquest as they headed back to halfway for a restart and their fans had heads in hands but Shoebridge and his linesmen failed to notice the ball had gone in.

If you haven't seen it yet, check the clip here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8204164.stm

Mr. Hudson set for Cardiff gig

CARDIFF CITY have confirmed they have had a bid accepted for an unnamed defender but it is supposedly someone other than Motherwell's captain and right back Paul Quinn and believed to be Charlton Athletic skipper and centre half Mark Hudson, the deal reportedly worth what strikes me as a rather inflated £700,000. Surely not that much?

Hudson "proud" wears a Charlton scarf last summer
Bet he'll soon "proudly" be wearing a Cardiff one

At 27, Hudson doesn't fit the vastly experienced category with just 170 league outings under his belt, the majority with Crystal Palace where he made his name before switching to Charlton last summer on a free transfer and managing 43 starts and 3 goals as The Addicks finished bottom of the Championship and were relegated to League One.

However Cardiff badly need two centre halves with Darren Purse departed and Roger Johnson sold so reinforcements are urgently required. He is also a known Cardiff City target as manager Dave Jones tried but narrowly failed to bring him to the club in the January transfer window.

The player was reportedly engaged in talks with Cardiff City today but there is no more news as yet.

Davis makes belated apology to Roger Johnson

After Roger Johnson spent 2 days in hospital following Claude Davis' elbow charge on him and the Crystal Palace loanee was charged by the F.A. with violent conduct which subsequently earned him a 3 match ban. the Jamaican finally contacted Roger to say sorry.


It is believed that no Crystal Palace club official made any attempt to check after the wellbeing of City's centre half as both club owner and manager engaged in an unseemly war of words.


On the phone call, City boss Dave Jones commented, "I don't know what was said or what Roger's response was, but I think it was done on Friday night. He should have done it on the day (it happened), but he's done it now. I think justice has been served on it. It's been done and we move on."

Davis Gets 3 Match Ban

Claude Davis, the on-loan man at Crystal Palace who elbowed Roger Johnson into hospital last weekend, was found guilty of violent conduct at a F.A. Hearing today.


He denied the charge but didn't contest or appear at the hearing so, as expected, he was handed a 3 match ban effectively ending his season.


Meantime, Roger Johnson is rated as 50/50 to be involved at Preston tomorrow but is unlikely to be risked as he recovers fromhis throat injury.


Claude Davis given three match ban for clash with Roger Johnson
Times Online

Ref admits error, Davis not expected to contest charge

It has emerged that the F.A.'s decision to slap a violent conduct charge on Crystal Palace's defender Claude Davis came after match referee, R. Booth, viewed subsequent video evidence and claimed to have missed the incident during the game but would have awarded a red card and penalty based on the video showing Davis' elbowing of City main man Roger Johnson.


Quite how he missed the incident at the time is beyond me as the video shows him in the perfect position and looking directly at the player. He probably also didn't help himself by allegedly infroming Crystal Palace that he saw nothing malicious in the challenge at the game if Palace boss Neil Warnock is to be believed.


Meantime, Davis himself is not expected to appeal aganst the charge and accept a likely 3 match ban which ends his season, his loan to Palace from Derby, and starts his summer holidays early ... on full pay of course!


Justice is being done but it remains to be seen whether it could also work against Cardiff. It was City appealing to the F.A. that helped produce this charge which ironically will see Davis miss Palace's last game of the season - at home to City's promotion rivals Sheffield United.

Claude Davis charged with violent conduct

Having viewed video evidence and taken in reports, the F.A. today charged Crystal Palace loan player Claude Davis with violent conduct following his off the ball elbow to the throat of Cardiff Ciy's Roger Johnson last weekend which left the previously ever present Bluebirds centre half struggling to breathe, coughing up blood, hospitalised for 2 days and made to miss City's victory over Burnley on Monday.


The Jamaican has until 6pm tomorrow to appeal ahead of a hearing on Friday which will see him banned for 3 games - effectively, the rest of this season - if upheld.


It is believed that Crystal Palace, the club or its leading officials, have failed to make any enquries about Roger's well-being. Regardless of feelings, the City man did nothing wrong and was a victim so it's a shame that's not been considered.


Tonight, Palace manager Neil Warnock expressed his unhappiness about the charge telling South London Press, “The referee told us after the game that he saw it and thought it was inconclusive so I don’t know what has changed his mind. There are just no comparisons between some of the challenges I’ve seen that haven’t been punished. That’s Claude done for the season now.”