Chris Powell looked deep into his coaching manuals for inspiration this evening and came up with a defensive formation which would play a high attacking line. With Dervite starting the game and only Yann Kermogant (not Kermoshant for the benefit of the eegit commentating for BBC London, although he was obviously a closet Leicester fan given his obvious frustration when Leicester came close) upfront, we started as we have tended to finish games and I was left wondering what we would do in the event we found ourselves chasing the game. Rhoys Wiggins was finally given a start back in the defence and Wagstaff returned to the right wing.
As it was, Charlton took the lead after 19 minutes following a poor square defensive ball in the Leicester half which Pritchard (Bradley Pritchard for the benefit of the eegit commentating for BBC London, not Bradley Wright-Pritchard) seized upon and squared for Yann Kermorgant to slot home. Kermorgant had the good grace not to celebrate against his former club although given the shoddy way he was blamed and then moved on for missing a play-off penalty, he was probably entitled to have done a cartwheel. Leicester huffed and puffed for the remainder of the half but we didn't sound unduly troubled. Instead we had the opportunity of listening to the Leicester crowd on several occasions as BBC London failed to switch us to updates from the Emirates and the New Den where other London clubs were evidently struggling.
We were up to 12th in table at the break and above Millwall for the first time in months and it felt good. With Arsenal's season continuing to collapse in front of their very eyes, all of a sudden our mediocrity was forgotten. Trust those Palace bar stewards then, to spoil things by leading at home whilst we were doing them a favour.
After the restart the pace of the game predictably picked-up as Leicester put us under more pressure. They got the ball into the net at the same time as Millwall went 3-1 down at home to Peterborough but the goal was flagged offside before it went in. Morrison tested Schmeichel with a shot from ten yards as Millwall conceded a fourth. Leicester changed both wingers after 65 minutes and again there was no immediate response from Chris Powell. Chris Wood got the equaliser slotting home after 70 minutes following a swift Leicester attack giving the 680 away fans and the 1000 suffering on CAFC Player an agonising last twenty. Wood's goal will be small comfort for Millwall fans this evening.
Ritchie De Laet was denied a goal by Hamer before Danny Haynes was brought into the action replacing Dorian Dervite as Chris Powell continued to appear to play the tactical game in reverse. A moment later Yann Kermorgant flicked on for Danny Haynes to fire home and restore our lead from 25 yards with his left foot. How bizarre given what's gone on for months. Maybe there is a lesson here for us? Lawrie Wilson got on for the last few minutes as Dale Stephens made way.
We held out and find ourselves eight points from 6th and the same from 22nd. Forest hammered Huddersfield 6-1 this evening but that might give them a touch of complacency for Saturday although it could just be their revival under Billy Davies kicking off. Millwall crashed to a 5-1 home thumping by second-bottom Peterborough and may be wishing they were concentrating on the league. Palace look like they may yet give us the icing on our season as we get to watch them suffer in the Play-Offs. Arsenal? Taxi for Wenger.
An enjoyable report. All the more impressive considering you weren't there!
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