Fulham 2–2 Crystal Palace: Gayle force winds at the double in London

May 11, 2014, 8:58 am

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By Mark Ritson at Craven Cottage. CRYSTAL Palace ended their Premier League season with a 2-2 draw at relegated Fulham this afternoon. The Eagles looked to have won it thanks to Dwight Gayle's stunning free-kick, only for Chris David to equalise with literally the last kick of the game with a brilliant finish. Gayle had given Palace the lead from close range in the first half, before for Cauley Woodrow equalised in the second period. Following his free-kick, Gayle could have had a hat-trick when Glenn Murray's shot came back off the crossbar and then off his body before going inches wide. Tom Ince was inches away from giving Palace the lead after just two minutes when he collected the ball just inside the danger area and curled beyond Fulham goalkeeper David Stockdale and the post. Wayne Hennessey, making his debut in the Premier League and for Palace, was forced into a save at his near post from Alexander Kacaniklic following a short corner, before Marouane Chamakh nearly sent Dwight Gayle through after a poor pass from Brede Hangeland. Following a superb long ball from Mile Jedinak, the ball fell to Gayle, who was clearly brought down on the edge of the box yet nothing was given by referee Kevin Friend. Yannick Bolasie picked up to the pieces and turned Elsad Zverotic with a brilliant Cruyff turn before blazing wide. At the other end, Damien Delaney came to the rescue with a last-gasp block to deny Cauley Woodrow's goal-bound shot. Tom Ince and then Bolasie were denied one after another following a quick counter midway through the half, and the Eagles deservedly took the lead just shy of the half-hour mark through Gayle. Joel Ward received a pass from Bolasie on the left before shooting towards goal and Gayle nipped in to tap home past Stockdale. Bolasie nearly made it number two soon after when his curling shot was well held by the custodian. And shortly before the break, Scott Dann was denied a header at the back post after a superb save from Stockdale. Fulham did end the first period well though and Hennessey had to be at his best to deny Fernando Amorebieta at the back post. Into the second period and Ward should have done better after collecting a pass on the left from Chamakh, before the striker himself hit the side-netting. Fulham were denied an equaliser on 53 miniutes when Hugo Rodallega's header struck the foot of the post, before David volleyed over at the back post. The Eagles were dealt a blow just before the hour-mark when Jedinak was forced off with an injury and was replaced by former Fulham man Kagisho Dikgacoi. The hosts were back on level terms when Woodrow picked the ball up on the right side of the box before checking back onto his left foot and curling beyond Hennessey. Ward saw a goal-bound effort deflected wide for a corner, before Pulis brought on Jason Puncheon and Glenn Murray for Ince and Chamakh. The game began to peter out after 75 minutes with not much action at either end. But Gayle had other ideas with several minutes remaining when he put Palace back in front with a stunning free-kick. Standing around 20 yards out, the striker stepped up to curl home beyond Stockdale to send the Eagles fans crazy. With the game drawing to a close and Palace looking to go home with all three points, David popped up with a top quality finish via the underside of the crossbar. What a season it has been for Crystal Palace. Let's hope August hurries up – but of course, there's a World Cup to look forward to as well. Palace: Hennessey, Mariappa, Dann, Delaney, Ward, Bolasie, Jedinak (Dikgacoi 59), Ledley, Ince, (Puncheon 71), Chamakh (Murray 74), Gayle. Subs Not Used: Speroni, Gabbidon, O'Keefe, Jerome. Attendance: 24,447 Referee: Kevin Friend

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Tony Pulis says the 'pressure is off' Crystal Palace striker Dwight Gayle

May 11, 2014, 1:59 pm

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CRYSTAL Palace manager Tony Pulis hailed striker Dwight Gayle after his second successive brace earned the Eagles a point at Fulham. Palace signed off in 11th place after a 2-2 draw at the relegated Cottagers, with Gayle repeating his two-goal performance of Monday night against Liverpool. Gayle, the club's record signing, has been in an out of the team under Tony Pulis, but the Eagles boss sees him as a big part of his future plans. He said after the game: "We'd spent a lot of money on him and it looked like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders in lots of respects. "He wasn't really integrated into the group and he looked a bit on the fringes, so we spent a lot of time opening him up as a person and a player. "He's become a lot closer to the group and his mates in the dressing room. He didn't need the pressure, we took that away from him and he's improved immensely. "Now he looks like what he is - a very, very good goalscorer. I expect a good return from him next season."

Purley hospital 'confusion' angers dog bite victim

May 11, 2014, 11:00 pm

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A PATIENT who went to Purley's hospital to treat a dog bite was met with confusion on the downgraded minor injuries' unit's first day, including a doctor asking: "Er, can we give out antibiotics now?"

The unit ceased to be an urgent care centre on May 1, when it was handed over to AT Medics with halved opening hours.

Frances Perry, 58, of Mitchley Avenue, said she was bitten by a stranger's dog on the evening of April 30 and decided to visit the unit the next day.

"I pulled out a copy of the Advertiser when I got home and, as sod's law would have it, I saw the opening hours were being halved from the very next day," she said.

"Because the hours weren't 8am to 8pm anymore, I couldn't go before work, so instead I watched as my hand got as swollen as the Hunchback of Notre Dame."

By the afternoon, Mrs Perry decided to leave work early and get down to the hospital before the bite became infected.

"It was the first day of the new contract and it was inevitably chaotic," she said. "All the staff seemed to be the same but there was a real sense of 'well, what we used to do'."

"I went up to reception and was told to sit down, only to hear people saying; 'Do we do dog bites any more?'.

"Luckily I was called in and the doctor said he wanted to give me antibiotics, but wasn't sure if the unit could.

"A nurse then went to go and find out and came back saying 'you're in luck, there was some in the cupboard'."

Halfway through Mrs Perry's appointment, her doctor's computer stopped working, prompting more people to interrupt and sort out the problems.

"Despite it being quite funny at times, I do think the service has changed," Mrs Perry said.

"When it was an urgent care centre it definitely did infections and things like that.

"It's a shocking waste of NHS money if something like that gets worse and you end up having to go to Croydon University Hospital, and take up a bed for two days attached to a drip."

Mrs Perry said it was also a shame to see services downgraded after so much money had been spent redeveloping the hospital.

Her husband currently has to take two buses to get to Croydon for his diabetes clinics, but was told he would have to wait a month to get the same appointment down in Purley.

The Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which is responsible for the change, has denied the minor injuries unit is a downgrade, and has cited low attendance figures as its justification for halving opening hours.

However, Suzanne Joyce, the project manager hired by the NHS to oversee the £11million refurbishment, has disputed these figures and urged residents to write to the CCG and their MP about the changes.

Tom Ince backs Crystal Palace team-mate to shine

May 12, 2014, 12:15 am

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TOM Ince believes Dwight Gayle is only going to get better next season for Crystal Palace after the striker bagged another two goals at Fulham on Sunday. Gayle gave the Eagles the lead in the first period and then curled home a brilliant free-kick at Craven Cottage in the second. And Ince is hoping last summer's signing gets a good pre-season under his belt to improve further. "Gayley got two goals, I'm made up for him," said Ince following the game at Fulham. "The lad has come from League Two at Dagenham (& Redbridge) and he's proven it all the way. "He's been in and out of the team, but for a striker to come on and score goals, especially the last two games. "He's a young lad with a bright future, so the more games he can get at Palace, the better he can be. "Gayley is not the biggest lad but he played against Brede Hangeland and he outmuscled him. "He has a great attitude and hopefully a good pre-season under his belt, the lad can score goals, we can see that."

Missing Lisa Gadsby found safe and well

May 12, 2014, 12:34 am

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A 25-YEAR-OLD woman who went missing on May 1 has been found safe and well. Police had appealed for the public's help in finding Lisa Gadsby, who had gone missing from Beckenham and was known to frequent Croydon. A Met spokesman said today (May 12) that Ms Gadsby had been found at an address in Selhurst on Saturday.

Two people rescued from South Norwood flat blaze started by candle

May 12, 2014, 12:59 am

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TWO people were rescued during a fire at a block of flats in South Norwood. Firefighters equipped with breathing apparatus rescued a woman from a first floor flat in Whitworth Road at 9.30pm yesterday (Sunday). A man also had to be helped free from a second floor flat. Four fire engines from Woodside station and two from Norbury were sent to the blaze, which began when curtains next to a lit candle caught fire in a ground floor apartment. Around 30 per cent of the flat was damaged, a London Fire Brigade (LFB) spokesman said. Four people were treated for shock and smoke inhalation by London Ambulance Service, including the two people rescued from the building. Firefighters were able to control the blaze and left the scene at around midnight. As well as leaving a candle next to a pair of curtains, there was not a fire alarm in the flat. "It was lucky it wasn't later in the evening or the consequences could have been far more serious," a firefighter who attended the scene said.

Paedophile Martyn Littell 'may have more victims'

May 12, 2014, 1:00 am

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FORMER colleagues of a convicted paedophile who abused children at his West Croydon home fear he may have more victims.

Martyn Littell, 40, was jailed for six years in April for abducting children and sexually assaulting them, including performing a sex act on an eight-year-old boy.

The Advertiser then discovered Littell (pictured) had changed his name ten years ago and was formerly known as Martyn Freak.

Under this name, the paedophile had also volunteered with the Bromley Scouts and coached the under nines Junior Reds football team, in south-east London.

Now more acquaintances have come forward, detailing why Littell left the Scouts in 1994 and later, the football team.

Littell told one acquaintance, who we have agreed not to name, of an accusation made at the Scouts in 1994.

"He apparently got close to a young boy there and built up a relationship which came to a head when the child stated to his parents that he was 'Martyn's special friend'," the ex-colleague said.

"According to Martyn he was questioned at a police station and was not pursued. He claimed it was a misunderstanding although I was never convinced. I can't believe a paedophile will wait 20 years to strike again."

A spokesman for the Scouts confirmed they had a record of a Martyn Freak leaving the Bromley group in 1994, having volunteered there since 1990.

The acquaintance, who has known Littell for ten years, said the paedophile told him the issue resurfaced in 2006 when he was coaching the under nines Junior Reds team. "He was asked to leave when a parent recognised him from the Scouts and told the directors (of the football club) of the accusation. Again this is what he said happened."

At one point, the acquaintance was with Littell in a group when a young boy complained of cramp in his calf.

He said: "Martyn said he knew first aid and could 'have a look'. He then began to massage the boy's inner thigh, which we all found uncomfortable.

"He only stopped when I told him to, or else I would kick him."

Others who knew Littell said they were "shocked" at how much contact he had with children.

The police have not been able to confirm the accusation from 1994 because their current database does not go back that far, while Junior Reds FC were unavailable for comment.

UKIP's MEP Candidate: 'MEPs can't stand up for you'

May 12, 2014, 1:08 am

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THE UKIP politician running to be one of London's eight Members of the European Parliament has said it is "nonsense" that MEPs can effectively represent their constituents. But Paul Oakley, who is also the UK Independence Party's chairman for Greenwich and Lewisham, wants the job anyway because it "gives us a voice." Arguing it was in fact the [indirectly elected] European Commission that called the shots in the EU, Mr Oakley told voters in Coulsdon on Thursday: "The fact that MEPs stand up for your interests is nonsense." Challenged as to why he were running for the post if that were the case, he said: "It is very straightforward: As elected representatives, it gives us a voice." He continued: "Nigel Farage is never off the TV and the reason is he holds an elected post." Mr Oakley's party, which wants Britain to leave the EU, is predicted to beat other British parties in the European elections on May 22. The candidate was speaking at an MEP London hustings organised by local residents, at the Coulsdon Community Centre. He was joined on the panel by Charles Tannock, one of three Conservative MEPs for London; Labour's candidate Ivana Bartoletti; Lib Dem candidate Anuja Prashar; and Green Party candidate Tracey Hague. They were quizzed on matters including waste in EU spending, environmental policy, and Britain's relationship with the EU. Mr Tannock challenged Mr Oakley's assertion that the May 22 elections were "about our membership of the EU." He added that was a matter for the British parliament, and "only by voting Conservative will there be a referendum." Prime Minister David Cameron has promised to hold in 2017 a referendum on Britain's membership of the EU, if the party is re-elected next year. Ms Bartoletti said she saw Britain's place in Europe but "in a different kind of Europe." She added: "The Europe that we have seen over the past years is not the kind of Europe that I had in mind when I started to get involved in international politics three years ago." Ms Hague said the Green Party was "working to make [the EU] more democratic and more accountable." Lib Dem's Ms Prashar said Britain was "starting to lose influence" in the EU given the growing domestic debate, something that needed to be "guarded against." The only MEP London hustings in Croydon, the event drew about 25 people – and a crew from Danish TV. Voters can pick their MEP alongside their local Council candidates on May 22. London is currently represented by Charles Tannock, Conservative; Claude Moraes, Labour; Baroness Sarah Ludford, Liberal Democrats; Dr Syed Kamall, Conservative; Jean Lambert, Green Party; Gerard Batten, UKIP; Mary Honeyball, Labour; and Marina Yannakoudakis, Conservative.

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Paul Hollywood looks forward to bringing one-man show to Fairfield Halls, Croydon

May 12, 2014, 3:00 am

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HE'S presided over a TV hit with The Great British Bake Off, now PAUL HOLLYWOOD hopes we see another, "cheekier" side of him, in a new one-man show coming to Fairfield Halls on May 24...Why did you decide to do a one-man tour? I really wanted to do something different. People have one image of me from The Great British Bake Off, as the stern judge who gives out criticism and I've got another image on shows like Pies or Puds which show the real me, which is basically a bit of a joker. By going on a one-man tour the public will get to see the cheekier side of my persona and learn a bit about my life. What will the audience see on the tour? Basically I am taking baking on the road and the premise is the story of my life in baking; how my dad persuaded me to ditch my path of being a trained sculptor and join the family business. Tales from my time as a head baker at some of the world's most exclusive hotels and of course, anecdotes from my time filming The Great British Bake Off. I'll also be answering all those baking questions people ask me on Twitter or in the street. Are you not nervous to be doing a one-man show? Yes! The idea of a live show is a bit daunting, especially as I'll be going to some venues such as the Hammersmith Apollo which to me feels like being a rock and roll star. But I have done a lot of demonstrations over the years, sometimes to an audience of thousands at shows like BBC Good Food etc, so I have some confidence when it comes to talking to a large audience. Will there be any surprises on the tour? Yes, we'll be inviting a selected number of people up from the audience who will get a little masterclass from me and be able to test out their own skills. It should be really good fun; I always see teaching as part of my job.Is there a new series of The Great British Bake Off this year? Yes, I'll actually start filming for the new series during the tour so it's going to be a full-on couple of months. The show has been given a new home on BBC One this year which will be a great new platform for it. I just can't believe how successful it has been. I thought it would just last two series but each year it just gets bigger and bigger; more people watched last year's final than X Factor, which is amazing.How is it working with Mary Berry? What you see with Mary is what you get, she really is such a lovely woman, an absolute breath of fresh air and we've become really good friends. When we are working all the time I have to admit I can get a bit tired but Mary is like a Duracell bunny, she just keeps going and never stops.

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Paul Hollywood's Get Your Bake On is at Fairfield Halls on Saturday, May 24, from 8.15pm. Call 020 8688 9291 or go to www.fairfield.co.uk

VOTE for your Crystal Palace goal of the season

May 12, 2014, 3:48 am

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Today and tomorrow we will be asking you to vote for your favourite moments from Crystal Palace's memorable season back in the Premier League. First, we want to know which goal you think has been Palace's best this season.

FAN COLUMN: Time for Crystal Palace to kick on

May 12, 2014, 4:09 am

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Upgraded infrastructure, not transfers, will progress Crystal Palace. Only the most ardently optimistic, nay delusional, of Crystal Palace fans could dispute that the club has excelled itself this season. In finishing eleventh in the Premier League the weight we have punched has been so far above our own that it's a miracle we could even reach. To what end, therefore, would we splurge millions in the summer transfer window? With the club's current infrastructure, we have managed to hit the ceiling of our development merely four years after exiting administration. Any tangible improvement on this season would necessitate unnerving and frankly un-Palace levels of spending. The three clubs above us – Southampton, Stoke City and Newcastle – possess quality in their squads far beyond our own. Of course, our togetherness and team ethos arguably eclipses theirs but teamwork and unity can only carry a team so far – and we've reached the final destination on that particular journey. Taking Southampton as an example, they added Victor Wanyama and Pablo Osvaldo to an already talented squad last summer for almost £25 million. Such lavish spending is beyond us at this moment in time. However, supposing our thus far sensible chairmen were suddenly gripped by a wave of extravagance, what could we hope to achieve with our millions? The most optimistic of outlooks would have us competing with Stoke or Southampton for 8th place. A glance at the prestige and magnitude of the teams above would banish any Europa League dreams, while we would certainly be well clear of the relegation scrap. The evident conclusion here is that summer spending would buy us a permanent place in the incontrovertibly thrilling race for mid-table mediocrity: a spellbinding struggle to be the first to secure a mundane, meaningless limp towards the end of the season. Three worthless matches this season (albeit rendered more exciting by their influence on the title race) have been more than enough. Why not maintain the spirit of the squad and allow another enthralling, competitive season next term, while committing funding to the club's long-term future? Any money available in the undoubtedly stringent and sensible budget drawn up by the chairmen would be best served on off-field enhancements. Stadium redevelopment, for example, is crucial in the long-term for the growth of the club. With the enormous potential South London catchment area from which to cultivate a growing fanbase, upgrading the club's infrastructure could well enable us to truly challenge higher up the table in the future. Of course, marketing will be equally crucial (and costly) in this regard to tempt younger fans away from the clutches of Chelsea and English football's other great Corporations. When the training ground is factored into the equation, one realises there are far more pressing requirements for funding than simply bloating an already sufficiently talented and characterful playing roster.

England World Cup squad: Roy should not overlook this Crystal Palace star

May 12, 2014, 4:52 am

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Former Crystal Palace youth player Roy Hodgson is set to opt against selecting any of Tony Pulis' players for his 23-man England World Cup squad this afternoon. Joel Ward would have been one of the main contenders for the England World Cup squad after a stunning first season in the Premier League. The Crystal Palace Young Player of the Year has featured 36 times for the Eagles this season, showing his flexibility on the field by featuring in four different positions this season in both defence and midfield. The 24-year old has featured at right-back, left-back, defensive-midfield and centre midfield for Crystal Palace this season, picking up the second highest amount of tackles in the Premier League with 115 this season, only his team-mate Mile Jedinak making more with 133. Continuing to shine through the tackling statistics, Joel Ward has the third highest tackle averages per game with 2.83, an amount in which is only bettered by Fulham's Matthew Briggs who has featured twice this season and West Brom's Claudio Yacob with 3.11 in his 1842 minutes of Premier League football. Compared to England's other options, Joel Ward has had a cracker of a season, equalling and exceeding their performances throughout the season. Joel Ward has won 41 more tackles than Southampton's Luke Shaw whom has the nearest tally compared to Ward whilst Everton's Phil Jagielka has won the same amount of aerial duels with 68. It is not only duels in which the Palace Young Player of the Year has exceeded his competitors as he has managed to pull in 88 interceptions this season compared to the 49 of Johnson and Jagielka. If you put the statistics on a piece of paper, it is very clear for the reasons in why Joel Ward should be taken to the World Cup compared to the players that can play in familiar players with him; it is not only those statistics either as it has been shown throughout the season that he can adjust to more than one position and to a very high standard. Who else did Roy miss? Jason Puncheon has been a surprise player for Crystal palace this season, scoring seven Premier League goals this season; four of which were scored against Cardiff, Everton & Aston Villa during the Eagles' five-game win streak towards the back-end of the season. He managed to score on average every 359 games in the Premier League with there being one main contender against Puncheon after his recent performances. Ian Holloway's record breaking transfer signing, Dwight Gayle has sprung to life recently managing to pip the likes of Jason Puncheon and Marouane Chamakh to Crystal Palace's Top Goal Scorer of the Season award with eight goals. The surprise of it all is that he has only featured in 1,005 minutes of football this season, building up a tally of a goal every 127 minutes in the Premier League. The 23-year-old has a better goal scoring record than Manchester City's Yaya Toure who has only managed to score his 20 Premier League goals in an average of every 146 minutes. Will Roy Hodgson's snub of Crystal Palace stars cost England the World Cup?

England World Cup squad members described in one word

May 12, 2014, 6:40 am

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ENGLAND boss Roy Hodgson has picked the 23 men to lead the Three Lions charge at the World Cup in Brazil. Based on nothing other than personal preference and prejudice, Glenn Ebrey uses one word to describe each squad member. Tell us below if you agree with his verdict...

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JOE HART: Shampoo BEN FOSTER: Solid FRASER FORSTER: Unproven GLEN JOHNSON: Flakey GARY CAHILL: Commanding PHIL JAGIELKA: Solid PHIL JONES: Versatile CHRIS SMALLING: Liability LUKE SHAW: Potential LEIGHTON BAINES: Indie STEVEN GERRRARD: Legend JORDAN HENDERSON: Transformed JAMES MILNER: Boring FRANK LAMPARD: Swansong ADAM LALLANA: Continental ROSS BARKLEY: Gazza ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN: Silky JACK WILSHIRE: Brittle RAHEEM STERLING: Exciting WAYNE ROONEY: Overrated RICKIE LAMBERT: Old-fashioned DANIEL STURRIDGE: Finisher DANNY WELBECK: Erratic

VOTE! What was your key Crystal Palace moment of the season?

May 12, 2014, 7:33 am

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Crystal Palace defied expectation by surviving the Premier League season, but what was your favourite moment? From our list below select the one moment you think was key in Palace's season.

Why Crystal Palace's Tony Pulis should be named manager of the year

May 12, 2014, 8:05 am

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Tony Pulis has done wonders for Crystal Palace this season and should be handed the Premier League Manager of the Year award without a single question asked. Joining a side at the bottom of the Premier League can be seen as one of the toughest tasks in English football in particular for a side with the lowest budget in the league and six points from safety, not only that but Crystal Palace were favourites to be relegated at the start of the season and were not even contenders to be promoted to the Premier League in 2012/13. December and January were important months in the turnaround of Crystal Palace's season as they picked up 16 points from the ten games during that period; in those two months Tony Pulis' men ranked eighth in the Premier League, topping the form of their nearest rivals in the bottom half of the table. These two months started to shape Tony Pulis' defensive tone as the Eagles claim the title of the best defensive record in December and January with only nine goals being conceded, Crystal Palace's nearest competitors on this front were Chelsea and Newcastle United who had conceded ten. This was vastly improved from the last three months under Ian Holloway in which Crystal palace conceded 21 goals. Tony Pulis' tenure at the club led to unprecedented success at the end of March with a 1-0 win against Chelsea as it led to Crystal Palace winning five Premier League games in a row for the first time since the league started in 1992. During the five game win streak Crystal Palace kept four clean sheets with the only goals being conceded against Everton at Goddison Park in which the Eagles battled to a 3-2 win. Crystal Palace's success this season has been down to Tony Pulis' tactical genius, his counter-attacking/defensive football has worked and over the summer it will not be a surprise if the club bring in players more to suit this style of play. Pulis' first 26 games in-charge of the club has seen a small amount of possession being held week upon week but with this a improvement of defensive behaviour; Crystal Palace have averaged 43% of possession under the management of Tony Pulis leading to the claim of the most interceptions of the Premier League per game with 18.3. The Eagles also happily claim the second average amount of tackles per game behind Liverpool under Tony Pulis with 22.2. The Premier League Manager of the Year is normally awarded to a manager that has won a trophy but this season should be a sign for change, it takes a special type of manger to change the fortunes of a club that were looking to be relegated with the lowest points tally since Derby County in 2007/08 – if Crystal Palace hired Sir Alex Ferguson, Manuel Pellegrini or Brendan Rodgers, could any of them saved the club from relegation? Pulis injected energy and hope into the Crystal Palace's players when it looked like a climb up ten of the world's highest mountains just to remain in the Premier League, he made the fans believe again and he invested in players that helped the club stay up on one of the smallest budgets in the Premier League. The League Managers Association Manager of the Year award will be decided tonight.

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Police hunt man who committed 'indecent act' while staring at woman on train between Streatham and Thornton Heath

May 12, 2014, 12:16 pm

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POLICE are searching for a man who committed an indecent act while staring at a woman on a train. The victim, a woman in her 30s, was travelling between Streatham and Thornton Heath on April 12 when the incident occurred. Detective Constable Marie Jeffery said: "The woman boarded the train at Streatham and a man got on soon after and sat directly opposite her. "The woman was using her mobile phone when she realised the man was staring at her and committing an indecent act. "She shouted at the man and moved away from him." The man got off the train at Thornton Heath, where is believed to have boarded another train which he left at Norbury. British Transport Police (BTP) have released a CCTV image of the man they want to talk to. Det Con Jefferey said: "I am asking anyone who recognises the man in this picture to contact BTP as a matter of urgency, as we believe he will be able to help us in our investigation. We also want to hear from anyone else with information about what happened. "This incident was deeply distressing for the victim and, while indecent exposure on the rail network is rare, we know they can be very upsetting for victims. "That is why we treat them very seriously and work closely with train companies and local police forces to identify those responsible and take appropriate action."Anyone who recognises the man in the picture, or who has information about what took place, is asked to call BTP on 0800 40 50 40 or ring Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111, quoting SSUB/B10 of 12/05/14.

Crystal Palace defender Joel Ward should have been in the England squad, stats show

May 12, 2014, 1:00 pm

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CRYSTAL Palace full-back Joel Ward should have made England's World Cup squad. This isn't just the view of a large chunk of Eagles fans, but at least one set of stats back up the former Portsmouth man's claims. According to player ratings compiled by the website Whoscored.com over the 38 Premier League games, Ward was the highest-rated English right back - averaging 7.27 out of 10. Yet, Ward has been passed over for Liverpool's Glen Johnson - likely to be Roy Hodgson's first choice in Brazil - while back-up will be provided by the likes of Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and James Milner, who do not play in the position regularly for their club sides. Ward also missed out on being one of the seven stand-by players, with fellow uncapped players John Stones (Everton) and John Flanagan (Liverpool)the men in line if injuries befall the first choice squad. Based on the WhoScored season ratings, the England starting XI would be: Hart; Ward, Cahill, Curtis Davies, Baines; Gerrard, Barry; Sterling, Rooney, Lallana; Sturridge.

Crystal Palace boss Tony Pulis voted Premier League manager of the year

May 12, 2014, 3:12 pm

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CRYSTAL Palace manager Tony Pulis has been named the Premier League manager of the year. The Eagles boss secured the most votes of his peers, winning the League Managers Association award ahead of the hotly-tipped Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers. However, Rodgers won the overall manager of the year award - said to be based on 'performance relative to resources.' Pulis only took over at Selhurst Park in November but did an outstanding job, lifting Palace from rock bottom with just four points when he took over to safety with four games to spare. Palace ended up in 11th place, enjoying famous wins over the likes of Chelsea and Everton along the way, before dealing a fatal blow to Liverpool's title hopes with a stunning fightback from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 in the penultimate game of the season. Pulis, 56, joined Palace having left Stoke City at the end of last season, after seven years in charge of The Potters. Accepting his LMA award on Monday night, the Welshman paid tribute to Steve Parish and his fellow directors and the Palace fans. On Twitter, Parish hailed his manager's achievement, writing: "Fantastic news that TP won manager of the year. Brought so much to our club in a short time, really pleased he's been recognised for it."

Police find no evidence of reported stabbing

May 12, 2014, 3:14 pm

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POLICE descended on Old Coulsdon yesterday afternoon following reports that a person had been stabbed. But officers called off the operation after finding no evidence that stabbing had taken place. A Met police spokesman confirmed officers had been called at around 4.30pm to The Crossways. HE added: "Officers atttended but could find no evidence of a stabbing."

Crystal Palace captain Mile Jedinak made most tackles and interceptions in the Premier League

May 12, 2014, 3:49 pm

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MILE Jedinak made more tackles and interceptions than any other Premier League player this season. The Eagles skipper - who started every Premier League match - made 133 tackles and 139 interceptions. The stats were revealed on Sky Sports' end of season review show, where pundit Jamie Redknapp praised the Australian midfielder, describing him as a "leader of men".