April 26 2008

Scott Sinclair

Crystal Palace must now wait until the last game of the season if they are to be sure of a play-off place after losing 2-1 at Hull.

The Eagles must beat Burnley at home if they are to be sure of making the end-of-season knockout as Wolves, Ipswich and Sheffield United all picked up points.

Hull kept up their hunt for automatic promotion with a winning goal five minutes from the end through skipper Ian Ashbee.

On-loan Manchester United striker Fraizer Campbell had given the KC Stadium outfit an 18th minute lead before Scott Sinclair levelled for Palace 20 minutes later.

The visitors were unlucky not to have gone ahead after just two minutes as Ben Watson's corner was headed onto his own bar by defender Michael Turner.

Hull were then denied by the upright as Dean Windass fired a 25-yard free-kick against Julian Speroni's woodwork.

Watson blazed a good opportunity over the bar before Campbell's neat turn and low shot from 20 yards gave Hull the lead on 18 minutes.

Shortly after, Windass got the ball in the Palace net when he latched onto Bryan Hughes' chip but luckily for Palace the linesman ruled it out for offside.

Palace clawed their way back into the match as Sinclair went close and Tom Soares had an effort deflected off Turner for a corner.

Seven minutes before half-time, the Londoners drew level after a defensive howler from Warren Brown. He robbed Morrison on his own six-yard box but passed straight to Sinclair who made no mistake from five yards.

At the start of the second period, Mark Hudson diverted Watson's free-kick off target, while Turner nodded a corner wide of the goal.

Roared on by the natives Hull began to turn the screw as Nathan Doyle blasted over from the edge of the box and Turner should have scored with a close-range header for the hosts.

Speroni blocked a shot from Campbell and it was no surprise when Hull grabbed a dramatic late goal in the 85th minute.

Dean Marney's corner was delivered into the dangerzone and Ashbee leapt unmarked to power his header into the top corner to leave the Hull fans delerious.

Speroni kept out another Hull attempt in the last minute, this time from Caleb Folan, and the whistle blew to as Palace's 10 game unbeaten run come to end.

Palace must win against Burnley on Sunday in the last match of the campaign to ensure a play-off spot. Anything less will depend on the results of Wolves, Ipswich and Sheffield United.

Hull: Myhill, Ricketts, Turner, Brown, Pedersen (Doyle 32), Folan, Marney, Ashbee, Hughes (Barmby 68), Campbell, Windass (Fagan 24).

Not Used: Duke, Walton.

Palace: Speroni, Butterfield, Hill, Hudson, Fonte, Derry (Scannell 87), Soares, Watson, Sinclair (Ifill 70), Morrison, Moses.

Not Used: Ashton, Hills, Bostock.

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