Crystal Palace 1 Derby County 0
Derby were left ruing missed chances as they left South London still two points short of assured mathematical safety.
However if this was playing on the minds of the Derby players then it certainly didn’t show. This tie had end-of-season-kick-around written all over it, and that is exactly how it was played.
The first half produced little play of note, with its most significant moment coming in the opening seconds of the match when Nick Carle took Savage out with a late challenge.
Derby’s best chance of the half came in its dying seconds; Pearson out on the wing, spotted Hulse waiting to pounce in the box, however his pull back to him was hit just behind the Derby hotshot and the danger soon passed.
The second half brought a little spice to the proceedings. On the hour mark Victor Moses caught Sterjovski in a bad tackle, and having already seen yellow for a dive the referee was left with little choice but to dismiss the Palace player.
Playing against ten men the advantage was supposed to be with the Rams, but only three minutes after the sending off Palace were one up.
Kuqi having been played through the offside trap by Clint Hill all too easily, deftly chipped over Bywater to score what was ultimately to be the match winner.
Derby did push forward towards the end of the game, and actually had the ball in the back of the net at one point through Tito Villa, however the offside flag ruled the goal out.
Derby Left Empty Handed After Palace Trip
Crystal Palace 1 Derby County 0
Derby were left ruing missed chances as they left South London still two points short of assured mathematical safety.
However if this was playing on the minds of the Derby players then it certainly didn’t show. This tie had end-of-season-kick-around written all over it, and that is exactly how it was played.
The first half produced little play of note, with its most significant moment coming in the opening seconds of the match when Nick Carle took Savage out with a late challenge.
Derby’s best chance of the half came in its dying seconds; Pearson out on the wing, spotted Hulse waiting to pounce in the box, however his pull back to him was hit just behind the Derby hotshot and the danger soon passed.
The second half brought a little spice to the proceedings. On the hour mark Victor Moses caught Sterjovski in a bad tackle, and having already seen yellow for a dive the referee was left with little choice but to dismiss the Palace player.
Playing against ten men the advantage was supposed to be with the Rams, but only three minutes after the sending off Palace were one up.
Kuqi having been played through the offside trap by Clint Hill all too easily, deftly chipped over Bywater to score what was ultimately to be the match winner.
Derby did push forward towards the end of the game, and actually had the ball in the back of the net at one point through Tito Villa, however the offside flag ruled the goal out.