January 3 2009

FA Cup

Crystal Palace were forced to an FA Cup third round replay after playing out a goalless draw at Leicester.

The Eagles failed to get into their stride against their League One opponents at a freezing Walkers Satdium.

In-form Leicester got out of the blocks fastest with Steve Howard blasting over from 35 yards and shortly afterwards he put a header from Max Gradel's free-kick wide.

Burly striker Howard was becoming a real threat to the Palace defenders and he almost put his side in front with another good headed attempt.

Paul Ifill went closest to scoring for Palace with a long-range volley that flew inches past the post.

Then Joe Mattock was unlucky not to send the Foxes into the break a goal up when his free-kick sailed just wide of the goal.

After a Neil Warnock tongue-lashing, Palace began the second half in promising fashion. Ifill unleashed a powerful drive from the dge of the box that Leicester goalkeeper David Martin did superbly to push out.

Then Leandre Griffit saw his 30 yard effort balloon over the crossbar.

But the hosts recovered from Palace's good spell by carving out good chances through Howard and substitute Paul Dickov.

Martin had to be alert to make an excellent save to keep out Griffit's looping shot, then down the other end Julian Speroni was on hand to block Gradel's effort from the edge of the area.

Leicester: Martin, Gilbert, Hobbs, Tunchev, Mattock, Gradel,Andy King, Berner (Dickov 57), Davies, Dyer (Adams 73), Howard.

Not Used: Campbell, Morrison, Porter, Chambers, Powell.

Palace: Speroni, Clyne, Fonte, Lawrence, Hill,Griffit (Moses 78), Butterfield, Danns, Carle, Ifill, Lee.

Not Used: Flahavan, Scannell, Ertl, Hills, Comley, Andrew.

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