April 5 2010

Calvin Andrew

Crystal Palace moved out of the relegation zone with a 3-1 win at home to Preston.

The Eagles came back from a goal down to claim a vital three points after goals from Neil Danns, Darren Ambrose and Calvin Andrew.

Palace roared out of the traps and almost scored in the first minute when Stern John's lob went inches over the bar.

Six minutes later, Paddy McCarthy's header was nodded off the line by Tom Williams.

But they went a goal behind seconds later from a swift Preston counter-attack. With most of the Palace players still in the opposing penalty box after a corner, Shaun Derry lost possession in the middle and Preston broke through Paul Coutts who fed Keith Treacy, and with just Julian Speroni to beat, slotted home.

Preston keeper Andy Lonergan saved Andrew's header but could not stop Danns scoring a neat finish five minutes before the break from six yards after the PNE defence failed to deal with Andrew's cross.

Seconds before the break, Palace were denied a penalty when Elliott Ward appeared to handle in the area but referee Roger East was unconvinced.

Five minutes after half-time, Palace went ahead as Danns surged into the Preston box and pulled the ball back to Ambrose whose powerful drive smacked against the bar and bounced over the line for his 19th goal of the season.

Lonergan came out well to block Andrew's effort, but six minutes from the end, the striker scored his first league goal of the season from Ambrose's pass to cap a brilliant win for Paul Hart's side.

Palace: Speroni, McCarthy, Ertl, Lawrence, Hill, Ambrose, Derry, Danns, Scannell (Carle 86), John, Andrew.

Not Used: Manns, Cadogan, Comley, N'Diaye, Zaha, Holland.

Booked: Danns, Lawrence, Scannell, Andrew.

Preston: Lonergan, Jones, St. Ledger, Ward, Williams (Brown 81), Treacy, Coutts, James,Carter (Davidson 68), Parkin, Mellor.

Not Used: Henderson, Hart, Chaplow, Chilvers, Barton.

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2009/10 squad stats

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