Crystal Palace have succumbed to a shock 2-0 defeat at the hands of West Bromwich Albion in this afternoon's Premier League clash at Selhurst Park.
James Morrison headed into the unmarked net just two minutes into the game, before his side held out until half time as the Eagles laid siege to their goal.
Seven minutes into the second half, a thumping 25-yard drive from Craig Gardner put the Baggies two up to deflate Palace, for whom a goal had seemed imminent.
It just wasn't to be the Eagles' day as chance after chance went amiss, Tony Pulis's charges seeing the game out to all but secure Premier League safety.
Find out how the action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text commentary below.
Good afternoon folks, and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of this afternoon's Premier League clash between Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion at Selhurst Park!
For the second season in a row the Eagles have exceeded expectations, as Alan Pardew's stewardship has led them to 25 points from 12 matches after they had picked up just 17 from the previous 20 games. Needless to say, Palace are safe this season and their fans will make the most of a sunny, bright matchday in London this afternoon.
The same cannot be said for the Baggies. Tony Pulis - who is just as revered as Pardew at Selhurst Park for keeping Palace up last season - brings his charges to South London under a bit of a cloud, following three defeats on the spin which have left them 14th in the Premier League table and just seven points above the drop zone.
Now, time for the team news...
CRYSTAL PALACE STARTING XI: Speroni, Ward, Delaney, Dann, Ledley, Bolasie, Jedinak, McArthur, Zaha, Puncheon, Murray
CRYSTAL PALACE SUBS: Hennessey, Hangeland, Kelly, Souare, Ameobi, Gayle, Sanogo
WEST BROMWICH ALBION STARTING XI: Myhill, Dawson, McAuley, Lescott, Brunt, Gardner, Fletcher, Yacob, Morrison, Berahino, Anichebe
WEST BROMWICH ALBION SUBS: Rose, Wisdom, Olsson, Baird, McManaman, Sessegnon, Ideye
Just the one change for Palace as Pape Souare drops to the bench and makes way for Joe Ledley, who slots in at left-back.
Likewise for West Brom, only one tweak from Pulis up front as Brown Ideye is replaced by Victor Anichebe.
This afternoon is shaping up to be quite a day out for Palace fans. Their team is safe for the second season in a row, and they will be able to pay tribute to two of their finest managers in recent history, who line up against each other at Selhurst Park.
Baggies fans can't rest so easy though, as they're not quite out of the woods yet, and to make things worse, their run-in after today consists of the following fixtures: Liverpool at home, Manchester United away, Newcastle away, Chelsea at home and Arsenal away.
So really, Pulis needs to really claim all three points this afternoon to give his side a good cushion, because except for perhaps the Newcastle game, the other fixtures are all going to be difficult in terms of claiming a decent points tally.
This is easier said than done though, because Palace are in great form. They've won five of their last six games, including their last four in a row, and are in line for their best ever finish in the Premier League, eclipsing their feat of the last campaign when they finished 11th with 45 points.
Palace's front line has also been in sterling form as Glenn Murray, Yannick Bolasie and prodigal son Wilfried Zaha have helped their side score 14 goals in their last six matches.
Despite their recent exploits, however, Pardew may have concerns over his side's defensive displays as they have failed to keep a clean sheet since February 7, a run that stretches back eight league games. A potential Achilles heel for West Brom to exploit then.
HEAD TO HEAD: Time to cast an eye over the previous between these two sides. West Brom's only win in the last nine meetings in all competitions came in the Premier League in November 2013.
Seventeen goals have been scored in the previous five Premier League meetings, an average of 3.4 goals per game, and in the corresponding fixture last season, the result was 3-1 to Palace - managed by current Baggies boss Pulis.
Glenn Murray is bound to make a difference today. The veteran striker has scored six goals and provided three assists in his last six games. Is a possible England call-up on the cards?
© Getty Images
And then there's Yannick Bolasie, whose hat-trick against Sunderland last week has reportedly put him in the spotlight of some European clubs. Said to be valued at £10m, his manager told the media that any potential suitors "need to have a look at that, because he is worth double."
The recent stats for West Brom, however, make for somewhat grim reading. They are winless in 10 away matches, have conceded 10 goals in three games, have claimed 18 points from a possible 48 against fellow bottom-half sides, and have conceded 17 set-piece goals this season - while Palace have scored a league-high 20 set-piece goals.
PREDICTION: Just 10 minutes until kickoff now, so it's time for me to attempt to predict today's result at Selhurst Park. Now, the stat and form dictate that Crystal Palace will canter to a win. But I'm going to turn it on its head and claim that West Brom will win 1-0.
Why, you ask? My theory is that, if there is a coupon-buster, this game could be it. Palace don't really have anything concrete to play for this season - yes, they can secure a highest-ever Premier League finish but it's not quite relegation survival, which West Brom are going to go all out for.
Of course, I could be proven completely wrong and end up with egg on my face, but I don't know, it's just my gut feeling. We shall see!
The teams emerge from the tunnel on a beautiful spring's day here at Selhurst Park!
KICKOFF: Referee Jonathan Moss blows his whistle and the Baggies get proceedings underway!
GOAL! CRYSTAL PALACE 0-1 WEST BROM (JAMES MORRISON)
Wow! I know my prediction was pretty ambitious but not even I thought the Baggies would be in front after just a hundred seconds! Berahino wins the visitors a corner, Brunt takes and Morrison rifles a header into an unmarked net!
CHANCE! Palace kick off and Zaha goes on to win a free kick which is taken by Jedinak and finds its way to Murray in the box, but the veteran fires over.
West Brom then push forward at the other end, but their attack comes to nothing and ends to Speroni. Murray's nudge on Lescott moments later, following the goal kick, gives the Baggies a free kick.
The hosts are probing the opposition defence and taking their time on the ball, but West Brom are proving hard to break down.
McArthur fires an ambitious shot from outside the box but the effort proves tame and is comfortably gathered by Myhill.
More pressing from Palace as Bolasie lashes a dangerous cross from the left, but there's too much on it for Zaha and it sails out for a goal kick.
BOOKING: First yellow of the game goes to the visitors as McAuley is cautioned for a foul on Murray.
PENALTY SHOUT! Anichebe is brought down inside the Palace area by Jedinak, the Baggies man is up in arms but the referee waves away the penalty appeals.
CHANCE! Jedinak, who nearly conceded a penalty just a few minutes earlier, takes a touch outside the Baggies box and fires a half-volley but it's over the bar.
Zaha snuffed out a Baggies attacks earlier on and now does the business at the other end as he charges down the right flank and send in a threatening low cross that Yacob does well to clear.
CHANCE! Palace keep pressing and surely at this rate it won't be long before they find the equaliser. From a free kick inside the hosts' half, the ball finds its way to Bolasie in the box, but his effort is saved by the feet of Myhill.
PENALTY APPEAL! Gardner clatters into Zaha as he leaps for a cross in the box. Again there are strong claims for a penalty, but nothing given.
CHANCE! Another great effort from Palace as Bolasie cuts inside and bends an inswinging cross into the Baggies box, but Myhill manages to fist away under pressure from Murray.
CHANCE! Bolasie is having a blinder this afternoon - moments ago he was dispossessed after coming close to breaking down the left, and now he's forced a save from Myhill with a bicycle kick! That would have been some goal!
Bolasie once again as he whips another dangerous cross for Murray, but it's just a few inches too high for the veteran to nod the ball in. It goes out for a goal kick and Murray has his head in his hands.
A short break in play now as Fletcher receives treatment after getting his studs caught in the turf as he overreaches for a Brunt pass, but the ex-Manchester United man is back to his feet now.
Around nine minutes plus stoppage time until the break, and Palace will be unhappy with themselves if they don't get at least a goal before then. Zaha charges down the right and takes on three men, but concedes a free kick for barging Gardner.
A now-rare West Brom attack is nipped in the bud as a great tackle from Puncheon stops Anichebe from getting into his stride.
Zaha has another low cross cleared, while luckily for the other side, Fletcher appears to be moving freely following his earlier scare.
The attacking trinity of Bolasie, Murray and Zaha is wreaking havoc upon the West Brom back line, but the visitors are holding firm.
The Baggies are not giving the Eagles an inch. Maybe it's a case of regrouping for Pardew's charges rather than over-exerting themselves in the final few minutes? Palace now have a free kick...
CHANCE! Puncheon takes and the ball is only cleared as far as Jedinak, who brings it down but fires well over the bar.
The referee signals two minutes of added time.
West Brom win a corner after trying to keep the ball away from the Eagles at the touchline, which Brunt takes and is cleared by Bolasie.
HALF TIME: CRYSTAL PALACE 0-1 WEST BROM
So Crystal Palace, despite being one of the form teams in the Premier League, are a goal down at the break to West Brom, one of the out-of-form teams, and it came after a hundred seconds courtesy of James Morrison, who made the most of some poor defending to head into an unmarked net.
The hosts set about trying to get back into the game and had plenty of chances to do so, but were denied by an inspired Myhill and an impervious West Brom defence.
In addition both sides could be aggrieved at being denied penalties, the first a challenge on Anichebe by Jedinak, the second when Gardner clattered into Zaha.
Palace, for all intents and purposes, should not be behind. The statistics showing 67 percent possession and nine shots, of which three were on goal, suggest that they should have done a lot better, but alas, sucker-punches followed by stout defending have led to teams winning international tournaments before - Greece 2004, anyone? - and could lead to West Brom nicking all three points here today.
The West Brom players celebrating their 100-second goal - will they still be as gleeful come the final whistle? Stay with Sports Mole and find out!
© Getty Images
KICKOFF: We're back underway here at Selhurst Park!
SUSTITUTION: Two changes for Palace as Mile Jedinak is replaced by Dwight Gayle and Joe Ledley comes off for Pape Souare, while it's as you were for the Baggies.
Palace immediately push forward, their first foray going out for a goal kick, while moments later they force a corner through substitute Souare.
PENALTY SHOUT! And it's number three in this game as Gardner is all over Zaha again in the penalty area, and yet again, nothing given!
Puncheon finds Bolasie out on the left-hand side, but his effort from the edge of the box sails way off target.
GOAL! CRYSTAL PALACE 0-2 WEST BROM (CRAIG GARDNER)
I did say this was a coupon-buster, didn't I? Palace have dominated for the majority of the game but now have it all to do as a West Brom corner goes all the way out to Gardner, who smashes it past Speroni from 30 yards out!
BOOKING: Scott Dann, whose clearance led to Gardner's goal, is shown a yellow for a foul.
CHANCE! Palace nearly conjure up a great response as Gayle sees his header from six yards cannon off the crossbar and out for a goal kick.
CHANCE! The hosts are hell-bent on taking something from this game as Puncheon drags a shot wide from outside the box.
BOOKING: Puncheon is shown a yellow card for a strong challenge on Berahino as West Brom happily knock the ball around. The game is theirs to lose.
Palace keep knocking on the West Brom door as Lescott blocks a Zaha cross before Bolasie tries a shot that also hits an opposition player and is cleared. At the other end, an audacious Berahino effort from the edge of the Eagles box fails to threaten Speroni.
Bolasie is brought down as he tried to slice through the West Brom defence, prompting the referee to give Palace a free kick, but once again it comes to no avail as Myhill gathers from Murray's header.
BOOKING: Palace's frustration and desperation is beginning to show as Bolasie is cautioned for simulation as he tangles with Dawson.
SUBSTITUTION: Dawson was clipped by Bolasie moments ago, and the West Brom man is unable to continue. He is subbed off as Andre Wisdom takes his place.
Ward drives forward, beats McAuley and sends a dangerous cross into the box that curls towards Myhill's goal before sailing out of play for a goal kick.
CHANCE! Now West Brom push forward, earning themselves two free kicks in quick succession before Berahino weaves his way through the Palace defence and forces a save from Speroni.
Less than quarter of an hour left, and Palace appear to be crumbling as West Brom begin turning the screw. It wouldn't surprise me if they strike an unanswered third, the way this game is going. It's just not the Eagles' day as the Baggies win consecutive corners.
BOOKING: Palace clear their lines, but Gardner then pulls down Murray, prompting the referee to show the West Brom man a yellow card for his troubles.
BOOKING: Brunt's late slide on Zaha gives Palace a free kick at the edge of the box and earns the Baggies man a yellow.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Changes for both sides as Yaya Sanogo replaces James McArthur for the hosts and Craig Gardner makes way for Jonas Olsson for the opposition.
Pardew shifts his side into a 4-3-3 formation in a bid to claw something from this game, may prove too little too late though.
DISALLOWED GOAL! And that pretty much sums up Palace's day as Sanogo taps home from Souare's cross, but the linesman's flag rules the goal out.
SUBSTITUTION: Chris Baird replaces Saido Berahino as the Baggies are happy to see this game out.
Further down the table, the relegation battle is going down to the wire as Leicester City lead Swansea City 2-0 with just a few minutes to go - if they hold out, it would be their third Premier League win on the spin and they'd be in the drop zone on goal difference only.
Six minutes of injury time here at Selhurst Park.
CHANCE! Bolasie cuts inside and finds Murray with a great cross, but the striker heads over the bar. He should have scored there.
They refuse to give up, this Palace side. They want at the very least a consolation as Murray controls in the area, but sees his shot blocked before it deflects back off him for a goal kick. Have I mentioned it's just not the Eagles' day today?
FULL TIME: CRYSTAL PALACE 0-2 WEST BROMWICH ALBION
And so the final whistle blows here at Selhurst Park and Crystal Palace have been undone by a Tony Pulis masterclass, West Bromwich Albion earning all three points in a smash-and-grab 2-0 win.
James Morrison headed into the unmarked net just two minutes into the game, before his side held out until half time as the Eagles laid siege to their goal, and seven minutes after the restart, a thumping 25-yard drive from Craig Gardner put the Baggies two up to completely deflate Palace.
It just wasn't to be the Eagles' day as chance after chance went amiss, Tony Pulis's charges seeing the game out to all but secure Premier League safety - they sit eight points clear of the drop zone with just five games to go.
Well folks, it's been an absolute pleasure taking you through today's game at Selhurst Park, but don't go anywhere - Sports Mole will be bringing you all the reaction from this match, as well as analysis and player ratings, not to mention news from all the other games across the Premier League and Football League. Thanks for tuning in and have a brilliant rest of the weekend!
Written by
Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte
