July 25 2009

Freddie Sears

Crystal Palace continued their unbeaten pre-season campaign with a 3-0 win against Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium.

Neil Warnock fielded a similar line-up to the team which drew 2-2 against Brentford on Tuesday night, bar a few alterations.

Jose Fonte and Clint Hill replaced Matt Lawrence and Danny Butterfield in the back four, and there was also a starting place for Nick Carle who replaced an absent Darren Ambrose.

On the bench were trialists Stefan Cox (currently on the books of Lewes), and goalkeeper Marry Lloyd.

Rovers had a few chances at the beginning of the match, including a long range effort from Darryl Duffy which went just wide.

However it was Palace who took the lead in the 28th minute when Freddie Sears latched on to a long ball from Hill, controlled the ball and fired a shot past Steve Phillips the Rovers keeper.

Palace had to wait until the 85th minute to extend their lead. Former Eagles defender Jeff Hughes was adjudged to have upended Alan Lee in the box, and Neil Danns stepped up to slot home the resulting penalty.

In stoppage time the Eagles rounded off a fine victory when substitute Alassane N'Diaye converted a cross to make it 3-0.

Palace: Speroni, Clyne, McCarthy, Fonte, Hill (Hills), Danns, Derry (Ertl), Carle, Moses (Cox), Lee (N'Diaye), Sears(Scannell)

Subs not used: Lloyd, Cadogan, Comley, Lawrence, Pinney