September 19 2009

Darren Ambrose

Crystal Palace got their first Selhurst Park league win of the campaign with a 1-0 triumph over Derby.

Darren Ambrose continued his fine start to his Palace career by netting the only goal with a a close range strike for his fifth of the season.

Johannes Ertl, back in the side in place of Alassane N'Diaye, fired a good effort goalbounds early on before on-loan Everton striker James Vaughan flew a chance over for Derby from 12 yards.

Eagles stopper Julian Speroni was lucky to only pick up a yellow card for handling outside the penalty area but dealt with the resulting free-kick.

Another Derby loan signing, Tottenham's Jake Livermore, tested Speroni while Palace had chances themselves with Neil Danns and Ertl going close.

Derby keeper Stephen Bywater made a good save to keep out Ambrose's scissor kick.

In the second half, Derby's Gary Teale tried his luck on goal but it was Palace who got their noses in front in the 55th minute as Ambrose got on the end of Sean Scannell's flick to poke into the opposite corner from the left.

The Eagles almost added another when Ertl put Ambrose's free-kick onto the crossbar on 69 minutes.

Bywater thwarted Ambrose, then Danns and Ertl had another attempts on goal.

Speroni kept out Kris Commons' shot as Palace recorded an eagerly awaited victory.

Palace:,/b> Speroni, Butterfield, McCarthy, Fonte, Hill, Ambrose, Derry, Danns, Ertl, Scannell (Carle 87), Lee.

Not Used: Flahavan, Moses, Hills, Cadogan, Smith, N'Diaye.

Derby: Bywater, Connolly, Addison (Commons 80), Leacock (Barker 78), Moxey, Croft, Savage, Livermore (Pearson 67), Teale, Hulse, Vaughan.

Not Used: Deeney, McEveley, Dickov, Hendrie.

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