Category Archives: Ben Watson

Drawing Out The Away Days

Ben Watson, ,

Another away draw last night, this one a 1-1 affair with Cardiff City at Ninian Park. Darren Purse opened the scoring for Cardiff, before Ben Watson equalised for Palace from the penalty spot just before half-time.

Vaguely related to the action on the pitch, it seems that on-loan Cardiff goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel managed to wind up the visiting Palace support. Lovely stuff.

Next up for Palace is a home game with QPR. The six-pointers seem to be coming thick and fast at the moment. We need to start winning a few of them.

Cardiff City 1-1 Crystal Palace [BBC Sport]
Palace 1-1 Cardiff Player ratings [cpfc.org]

First Home Win of 2007/08

Ben Watson, , , ,

Yikes, I wouldn’t say that this win was a long time in coming, but I was beginning to think we were still in the Premiership. Speaking of being in the Premiership, at least this time we could rely on a Bryan Robson-managed team to do what they ought to, as his Sheffield United side were on the wrong end of our 3-2 win.

Our win was sealed in the closing minutes with a Ben Watson penalty, with our earlier goals coming from Tom Soares and Carl Fletcher. All the goals came after half-time. A welcome win, and a welcome jump up the table as well (we’re now 15th).

Crystal Palace 3-2 Sheffield United [BBC Sport]

Taylor takes another cup seriously

Ben Watson, Dougie Freedman, League Cup, Peter Taylor, Shefki Kuqi

A team full of reserves managed to crash out of the League Cup tonight, losing 4-1 on penalties to Bristol Rovers (1-1 after ninety minutes and also after extra time).

Dougie Freedman scored what was apparently a sublime free-kick, but was one of two players to miss in the shoot-out. The other was Shefki Kuqi, who most fans on BBS were quick to criticise, while others would happily drive him to possible-buyers Ipswich themselves.

Of the first-teamers who did play one managed to receive an injury. Ben Watson was reported to be unable to put any weight on his left leg following his substitution. Obviously we hope it isn’t a bad injury.

Peter Taylor’s record in cup games as Palace manager now stands at P4, W1, L3 (yes, I’m counting this as a defeat). The warning I received from a Hull City fan to never expect a cup run under Taylor seems entirely justified on present evidence.

Bristol Rovers 1-1 Crystal Palace (AET) [BBC Sport]

Strange days indeed

Ben Watson, ITV, Leicester City

A 2-0 win over Leicester City yesterday helped to give us a total of ten points out of the last twelve. After hearing the result I logged onto the BBS and saw there was a great debate about the booing of Ben Watson prior to him scoring our second goal from the penalty spot.

Booing our own players? Before they take a penalty for us? Even the often maligned Shaun Derry garnered support before stepping up to the spot at Sunderland in the play-offs three years ago.

And we can’t deny it happened. Plenty of Palace fans reported hearing it, along with ITV’s Championship highlights show. It’s little wonder why the young players we bring through head elsewhere when they get the opportunity.