A WAY THROUGH THIS
CRYSTAL PALACE v MIDDLESBROUGH
Jonathan Way, 7 Nov 2009
Not a great start.
Is what Gordon Strachan got on Saturday as Boro fell to their fourth home defeat in the last five. An uncreative performance, a defensive mistake and a missed penalty led to Plymouth snatching all three points in a 1-0 win. We now face a tricky trip to Selhurst Park as we aim to make up the six point gap which separates us from the top of the table.
Since taking charge in October 2007, Palace manager Neil Warnock quickly turned the club around from relegation battlers to promotion contenders, eventually losing out in the play-offs last season. After a disappointing start to this campaign, things are starting to look up for the Eagles, with only one defeat in their previous nine matches.
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Julian Speroni v Brad Jones
Palace's Player of the Year for last season has had a decent start this time around, but has only been able to keep three clean sheets so far. The Argentinean played a big part in earning the Eagles' point against QPR on Tuesday night, performing several marvellous saves.
Strachan decided to stick with the Boro number one for his first game in charge, despite him conceding more than one goal per game on average this campaign. Unlucky not to have stopped the Plymouth goal, it seems Jones is improving each week as he picks up more experience.
Jose Fonte v Sean St Ledger
After a season long loan from Benfica, Fonte made the move to Selhurst Park permanent in 2008 following a string of impressive displays in the heart of Warnock's defence. The Palace number six, who can also play as a makeshift striker, will hopefully be in for a tough afternoon against Boro.
The on-loan defender looks certain to retain his place in the starting line-up following Pogi's disastrous return from injury. I think nearly all Middlesbrough fans hope to see St Ledger sign permanently in January after he put in another impressive performance in the red shirt against Plymouth.
Darren Ambrose v Julio Arca
Since joining on a free in the summer, the former Geordie has had a brilliant start to the campaign. Ambrose definitely deserved to be Crystal Palace's man of the match against Preston last week, as he scored his sixth goal of the season to rescue a well deserved point for the Eagles.
A lot of people were surprised at the manager's decision to start Arca on the right wing last weekend, but the risk paid off. The 28-year-old provided numerous crosses and possibly his best display of the season to make him, without a doubt, one of our best players on the pitch against Argyle.
Stern John v Marcus Bent
The 33-year-old had a terrible debut for Palace at the start of the campaign, dislocating his elbow just 35 minutes in. Returning from injury a fortnight ago, the ex-Mackem will be hoping to start only his third game of the season. He will also be trying to get off the mark for his new club.
Bent became Strachan's first signing on Friday as he arrived on a two-month loan deal from Birmingham City. The six foot striker impressed many fans when he replaced Emnes just after half time and I would be very surprised if he didn't start his first game at Selhurst Park.
With Middlesbrough averaging more than two goals an away game this campaign and Palace unbeaten at home since mid-September, this is certainly going to be a tough fixture to call.
Hopefully the Eagles' mid-week clash with QPR will have affected the fitness of their players ahead of our trip to South London. However, I think we will only manage a 1-1 draw, leaving Strachan still looking for his first Middlesbrough win.
