Crystal Palace earn narrow pre-season friendly win over Colchester United

Crystal Palace have clinched a 1-0 win over Colchester United in Monday night's pre-season friendly at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Alan Pardew's charges took the lead after just nine minutes when Jason Puncheon laid the ball off to Jordon Mutch, who side-footed an effort home off the crossbar from 20 yards out.

Palace threatened following their goal but Colchester went on to rattle the post 23 minutes in through Chris Porter before Puncheon cleared Alex Wynter's follow-up off the line.

In the second half Yannick Bolasie saw a thumping effort tipped behind after a neat one-two with Puncheon early on, and although the U's won a number of free kicks and threatened from time to time, Palace would see the game out for a morale-boosting pre-season win.