Crystal Palace 0 Birmingham 0: Match report

Feb 24 2009

Birmingham blew the chance to close the gap on Coca-Cola Championship leaders Wolves to just one point as 10-man Crystal Palace held out for a goalless draw at Selhurst Park.

Marcus Bent, Lee Bowyer, Cameron Jerome and new Honduran forward Carlos Costly fluffed their lines in front of goal for the second-placed Blues.

And the misses could indeed prove costly come May with Reading still breathing down their necks in third as the automatic promotion race gathers pace.

Palace played the final quarter of an hour a man down following Nick Carle's dismissal for a crude challenge on Jerome but the Blues could not take advantage.

After a bright opening from Palace, during which Victor Moses tested Maik Taylor with a fierce 20-yard drive, Birmingham got their first sight of goal in the 11th minute.

Sebastian Larsson's deep, curling cross eluded Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni but Costly, making his first start for the visitors, could not get a head on the ball.

Speroni then saved well at the feet of Bowyer and Keith Fahey fired wide with City by now warming to their task.

They should have opened the scoring on the half-hour when Bent got in front of his marker and met another fine Larsson cross with a firm header, but the ball flew inches wide.

As the interval approached a comical mix-up between Stephen Carr and Taylor almost let in Alan Lee, but the Palace striker could not finish.

The City keeper made amends moments later by blocking Neil Danns' shot - although the ex-Birmingham midfielder was adamant he should have had a penalty for a shirt-pull.