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Palace 2-2 Leeds United: Murray at the double once again at Selhurst

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CRYSTAL Palace were held to a 2-2 draw against Leeds United at Selhurst Park this afternoon.

The Eagles enjoyed much of the play throughout the contest, but they nearly went away without even a point after Steve Morison had stunned the home faithful with two goals in quick succession against the run of play following Glenn Murray's first half opener.

But the striker grabbed the equaliser for his 30th of the season in all competitions with a low finish in front of the Holmesdale Stand.

Leeds looked lively in the opening stages but Palace soon got into their attacking rhythm through Yannick Bolasie and Jonathan Williams in particular.

Kagisho Dikgacoi had the first real chance of the afternoon after ten minutes when he headed inches wide from Stephen Dobbie's corner.

But a few minutes later Leeds had their first opportunity from a corner of their own when former Millwall striker Steve Morison shot just wide from ten yards out.

Eagles hitman Glenn Murray had the next good chance of the game after 19 minutes when Wilfried Zaha beat his marker down the right and delivered a great ball for the striker, who forced a low save from Paddy Kenny with a glancing header.

Ross McCormack tested Julian Speroni from range shortly before the half-hour mark with a ferocious low drive from range, but the custodian did well to hold on first time.

But Palace took a deserved lead moments later when Jonny Williams entered the box on the left and delivered a wonderful ball to the back post where an unmarked Murray headed home with ease.

The striker thought he may have been offside but the assistant on the far side had kept his flag down and Ian Holloway's men were rolling.

And it could have been two when brilliant play from Zaha saw the winger skip past a Leeds player on the left before playing the ball into Jonathan Parr down the left, who beat his man, burst into the box and forced Kenny into a good stop at his near post.

Zaha, destined for Leeds' bitter rivals Manchester United, was having a belter for the Eagles and nearly created Murray with another, but his low cross was cleared at the last second inside the box.

Ian Holloway's men came out extremely bright in the second half, with Zaha going close with an effort wide of the far post after bearing down on goal from the right.

Dobbie then did well to beat a Leeds player on the edge of the box before curling an effort over.

Luke Varney was then booked for an embarassing dive in the Palace box and was rightfully booked.

However, he had a big say in the next moment of the match when Leeds grabbed an equaliser against the run of play.

The former Charlton man skipped down the left and centred a low ball into Morison, who fired home from just inside the box towards the bottom corner.

Palace were stunned, but it didn't stop them from playing their attacking brand of football, and Dobbie went extremely close with two low effort that crept inches past the post with Kenny beaten.

And then Leeds sparked an unbelievable turnaround when they grabbed their second of the afternoon.

A long ball forward from Kenny ran straight to Morison, who volleyed on the run past Speroni to stun the home faithful.

Palace had no option but to change formation and so Holloway threw on Tuesday's hat-trick hero Kevin Phillips in a bid to salvage at least a point.

Dobbie skied a shot over from the edge of the box soon after before he was substituted, but then Palace grabbed an equaliser throught that man again, Glenn Murray.

A ball into the far post from Delaney was hit first time by the striker for his 30th goal of the season in all competitions to send Selhurst Park crazy.

Palace applied heavy pressure in the final stages as they went looking for the equaliser before the fourth official issued four minutes of added-on time.

But the Eagles were unable to grab a dramatic winner and had to make-do with a point.

Palace: Speroni, Dikgacoi, Parr, Ramage, Delaney, Jedinak (c), Williams (Wilbraham 86), Dobbie (Moritz 83), Zaha, Bolasie (Phillips 74), Murray.


Subs Not Used: Price, Richards, Moxey, Butterfield.

Attendance: 19,976


By Croydon Advertiser Sports Reporter Mark Ritson

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