Crystal Palace 1 - 2 Sheffield United

The most hated man in football arrived with his team and proceeded to bore the pants off the 15 thousand Palace supporters. In fairness to Mr. Warnock his charges controlled the first period for long stages, but should have been dead and buried by half time as Kit Symons, Dougie Freedman and Neil Shipperley wasted excellent chances. Shipperley missed a penalty which may have completely changed the course of the game, after Freedman had been hauled down by Jagielka. Freedman (Palace's penalty taker), was taken off as a result of this challenge. Johnson (Palace's second penalty taker) was not allowed onto the pitch to substitute for Freedman, so Shipperley had to step up to the plate. Unfortunately he planted his spot kick far too close to Kenny who saved comfortably. United took the lead with a cool finish by Peter Ndlovu after Hayden Mullins had given Shaun Derry a hospital pass. Following the missed penalty, Kenny in the United goal received an injury in a clash with Derry which meant that he could take no further part and was replaced between the sticks by Jagielka. On the stroke of half time Wayne Allison scored a second for the visitors following a left wing corner. His glancing header going in of the far post.
In the second period Palace were awarded a second penalty when Andy Johnson was felled when clean through. Referee Scott Mathieson somehow only managing to produce a yellow card. Johnson made no mistake from the spot to reduce the arrears. Michael Brown was given his marching orders for a two footed lunge from behind on sub Wayne Routledge as United resorted to every trick in the book to waste time and niggle, and it was to the detrement of Mr. Mathieson that he allowed this gamesmanship to go unpunished, as United held on to steal the 3 points.
At the conclusion of the match, Warnock jumped out of his dugout and incited the Palace supporters in the main stand by turning towards them and punching the air with both arms, alternately. If that had been Mr. Wenger or Ferguson then they would have been in front of the FA before they got on the team bus. Warnock has just been handed a 4 match touchline ban and if there is any justice there should be more to come after his antics at Palace. His display was worse than that of Thierry Henry's goal celebration last week which has lead to him having been charged with bringing the game into disrepute.
Palace's woes were worsened by injuries to Freedman, Symons, Derry and Shipperley who along with the already injured Darren Powell are doubtful for Saturday's trip to Millwall.