Crystal Palace visit Portman road today, both teams have got off to a good start with a win and a draw, sitting high in the table. Both teams have a chance to go top if managing to win by 2 clean goals.

Town Line up with: Alexander, Wright, Bruce, De Vos, Harding, Walters, Miller, Garvan, Roberts, Counago and Lee with Supple, Casement, Legwinski, Haynes and Clarke on the bench.

Palace come with Speroni, Lawrence, Cort, Hudson, Craig, Soares, Fletcher, Kennedy, Green, Scowcroft and Freedman with Flinders, Butterfield, Hughes, Morrison and ex- tractor boy Kuqi on the bench.

Kennedy tries a chance of goal with 2 and a half minutes on the clock but it flies high into the north stand.

After Alexander sends the ball back into play up field for Town a free kick is given to Ipswich for a shove in the back on Lee, The kick is taken by Wright and met by Counago who sends the ball into the centre of the Town box, De Vos jumps but fouls Speroni as he does it and a free kick is given the other way.

Lawrence puts a high cross into the Town box for Scowcroft late in the 3rd minute but Harding is close by to clear from the bounce.

Miller receives the ball from Counago just outside the visitor's box, but his shot is blocked by Cort and falls safely into Palace play.

From an offside Palace have a kick in their own half Lawrence is there ready to put pressure on the Town box, but doesn't manage to cause any harm as Alexander is there to catch.

9 minutes on the clock, Garvan out on the right sends a lovely ball into Speroni's box, Counago runs for it but Speroni is there first with the catch.

Counago finds Walters with space on the right wing, he takes the ball a little further up before crossing the ball into the box for Lee, but Lee trying to decide which end to use just kind of flops in front of the ball and doesn't even make contact, So Walters cross carries on going out giving Crystal Palace a goal kick.

Scowcroft fancies having a go just outside the Town box, but shows no accuracy on the placement of the ball sending it wide, and he's not too pleased about it.

Town continue pussy footing around goal, getting no where and every time Palace try to attack the Town defence are sharp and solid.

Counago receives a gift from below, Hudson comes in from behind and gives him a knee up the bum, Counago is very uncomfortable but hey he's a footballer I doubt it's his first time. Hudson moves away, but Counago's shorts stay right up there. I thought those brown stains we often saw came from mud, well now thanks to this I'm more knowledgeable.

Town win the 1st corner of the game in the 25th minute, Garvan takes, Walters goes in to meet the ball but a nudge is spotted and a free kick once again goes to Speroni.

Counago has nice control of play around half way before spotting Walters on the wing, Speroni finds Walters cross and catches with ease.

Lawrence on the right of the Town box gets ahead of the defence, crosses the ball in, Green bounces on for Morrison scuff miss-timing his kick of the ball, making contact with his heel, the ball bounces the other side of Wright who was making his way to challenge, and bounces high and out of play.

De Vos joins the crowd, needing to take a seat, I understand granddad, it's a hot day and you have actually been doing your job, that's ok, take a seat, but I don't think that lady appreciates your sweaty backside on her lap.

A free kick to Crystal Palace is given just outside the right of the Town box after Bruce trips Fletcher in the 33rd minute. Green steps up to take it, it's a good one, sneaking towards the right side of the net but Alexander and his big hand saves the day, yay, from this Palace win their 1st corner, but the corner unlike the free kick, is crap.

Soares gets away from Roberts on the wing, well lets face it, that alone is nothing to be proud of, I mean, who doesn't get away from Roberts on the wing, Anyhoo, Soares passes the ball to Scowcroft in the box, Scowcroft doesn't realise that when Soares kicked the ball to him, he was supposed to meet it, so the ball carried on rolling for Wright to clear.

Garvan does his usual in the 38th minute, takes a random shot outside of the Palace box and sends it to the old man at the back of the south stand (I don't really know if there is an old man at the back of the south stand, but hey what are the chances).

Counago wins a free kick after Hudson once again, comes in from behind with the knee up, ok it was a harsh decision as Counago merely rolled out of the way but wouldn't you if someone seemed to have a fetish for sticking his knee up your backside, I think that deserves a free kick on it's own!

Bruce in the Town half sends a long ball up field for Town, both Speroni and Lee race to be the first to the ball, they both get there pretty much the same time with Lee only just making the touch, it's the edge of the 18 yard box and as Lee tries to get around Speroni, Speroni comes out of the box to stick with Lee and stop him getting past. Play is now half way between the box and the sideline with Lee and Speroni still battling, as Lee continues to push, he tries to cross the ball over Speroni, well Speroni makes a diving save, this would be a good save, but, they are still outside the 18 yard box. The Town fans are off their seats, Mr D'Urso goes to speak to his linesman with the yellow flag Mr Steve Tincknell, who has waved for a corner! Speroni is called over to Mr D'Urso as the Town fans await a red, a yellow is shown. How on earth can you give a yellow to a keeper outside his area who handles the ball, if they aren't booking him for the handball then what on earth are they booking him for, apparently it's only a yellow as it was not a direct goal scoring opportunity and is given for unsporting behaviour, well I think Speroni is a very lucky man to still be on the pitch.

At the first opportunity when Mr Tincknell is down at the half way line and play is stopped Brian Klug, Town coach, steps forward with the 4th official and has a word, Mr Tincknell ignores whatever is being said and as Klug steps back into his box Mr Tincknell, smiles and laughs. I'm sorry but I really want to knee him up the bum whilst wearing spiked tights.

44 minutes, Casement has ginger hair.

Town restart the match, both sides unchanged.

In the 47th minute play is with Palace inside the Town box Kennedy manages to recover a low ball sending it in the direction of Alexander's net, Harding is there however to block the ball. With his arm before he pelts the ball out and a throw is given. The ball comes back into play and back into the Town box but play is stopped for a handball from Soares.

49 minutes and Crystal Palace are attacking again, with 2 tries on reaching the net both are denied by a diving head from Bruce.

Once again in the 49th minute Bruce has a nose bleed!

Walters sends a wide ball through, a bit too wide for Lee, but Roberts recovers the ball for Town and plays on for Garvan. Town continue to attempt to break through the Palace defence but they are staying strong and unfazed.

Town win a free kick in the 53rd minute after Scowcroft comes on Wright too strong, the kick is a little way into the Crystal Palace half and Wright prepares to take it, Green is placed at 10 yards, has a look to see if D'Urso is watching, then moves to 8 then 6 then 5 yards, from a 5 yard distance of the free kick, he jumps, block, gives Town a throw, but he has got away with the incident and Town fans are outraged.

Play remains in the visiting half as Town continue to try and get a shot on target, but Palace remain the bolt in front of the goal.

Town have a free kick for Green on Roberts but the kick leads to an offside.

The offside flag is up once again in the 56th minute against Counago, the ball goes out of play on the side and if you watch it in slow mo from the sky sports coverage, you will see quite possibly either Billy Clarke, or his clone in the stand yelling, well that alone sounds like Clarke doesn't it, but isn't he supposed to be on the bench, in his training gear, without a back pack? Also John Terry is quite possibly sitting behind the linesman, maybe checking us out to move to when we reach the premiership next season, he can't stay at Chelsea forever.

Lee is defending in the 57th minute after a ball from Kennedy comes flying into the Town box.

Pablo's run is cut short when just outside Speroni's box he handles the ball.

Soares is booked in the 58th minute for a late challenge on Miller and a free kick is given to Town but the ball is soon back with the Eagles.

Garvan finds Wright in space who sends the ball into the box for Lee but his strike falls for Speroni.

In the 63rd minute Crystal Palace make their 1st change with Green being replaced by the bearded Kuqi who comes on to a warm welcome throughout the whole stadium. Palace are now playing with 3 up front.

Inside the Town box Kuqi finds Soares in a good position, Soares tries to send the ball goal ward but De Vos blocks and sends the ball out for a corner. Kennedy's delivery is intercepted by Town with Cort not quite making it.

Miller has a chance outside the area in the 65th minute but it goes straight out for a goal kick.

Walters finds Counago in good space who helps the ball further into the box, he turns to shoot, but Lawrence was close by to cancel it out.

Both teams have a short spell of moving tiredly around the Centre with long balls being whacked end to end by each side of defence, from this ‘cool down period' Town seem to pick up energy first and heads goal ward Miller makes the run through the centre before finding Pablo further to the right, Pablo finds Lee in the left side of the box, he tries to get around his following defender before passing onto Roberts who makes himself available for help, Roberts crosses the ball deeper into the box where Walters stands, seeing the ball, he jumps and swiftly heads the ball past his marking man and into the back of the net. Town are a goal up in the 72nd minute.

Palace make a double change with Freedman and Fletcher making way for Morrison and Hughes and Haynes replaces Roberts for Town before Palace re-start the match.

Palace have a chance to equalise in the 73rd minute when Bruce gives away a free kick on the edge of the Town box, Kennedy wastes his chance kicking the ball to the right of the Town goal, ok very wide right.

This time it is the Town defence that are the stronger force field, the Eagles are getting nowhere near the net.

Alan Lee makes way for Legwinski on 79 minutes and seems to reposition Town into a 4-3-3 formation.

Palace come closer to goal in the 81st minute, Kuqi picks up on a ball from Freedman but heads it into the hands of Alexander.

Palace break into the Town box and Freedman kind of side way kicks towards the goal, Alexander can't get a firm hold on it and Hughes is there ready to score, unfortunately for Palace he has come back into the game from an offside position.

On 87 minutes Clarke replaces Counago.

In the 88th minute Town are attacking Speroni's box, but then Garvan turns the ball and from a link of blues goes all the way back to Alexander.

Scowcroft blows a chance to equalise, heading past the Town post from a Palace corner.

4 minutes added time is shown during which Walters has the ball by the left corner, being marked by Lawrence, the final touch is from Walters as the ball rolls out of play for a throw in, Lawrence pushes past Walters leaving Walters on the floor, for this Walters sticks hi head between Lawrence's legs, grabs his ankles and rugby tackles him down laughing, D'Urso is quick to react and Lawrence fails to find the amusement of the situation. But that's that, I think D'Urso found it amusing too, go on you can admit it, I saw you laughing, I did.

Haynes puts a lovely long ball into Clarke in the box, Clarke strikes, but Speroni is alert and blocks the attempt, Haynes runs in to strike the rebound but Speroni has quick reaction and manages to block that shot too, Town are denied the top spot by a player who questionably should not have been on the pitch.

Oh well, unbeaten in the league, and joint top.

Alexander: 7/10: Defence worked well not leaving him with much to do, but what he did, he done well.
Wright: 7/10: Made some very good runs linking the back to the front.
Bruce: 8/10: Solid defending, and what match is complete without a nose bleed from him.
De Vos: 9/10: The best performance I have seen from De Vos, all round brilliance, solid defending, skipped the Tractor boys on.
Harding: 6/10: Risked giving away a penalty, but otherwise kept on the mark.
Walters: 8/10: Full of fight and energy, good goal giving Town the points.
Garvan: 8/10: A brilliant link in the midfield.
Miller: 8/10: Just as important as Garvan always creating spaces for play.
Roberts: 6/10: A very up/down performance, done little to stand out, well in a good way.
Counago: 7/10: Created many opportunities had his hand in the run up to goal, played offside a little too often.
Lee: 7/10: Fist game of the season he hasn't scored in but certainly kept the Palace defence out of breath and done an excellent moment of defending.
Haynes: 7/10: Came on with a lot of speed and energy, got the attack refreshed.
Legwinski: 5/10: Didn't stand out once on, but Garvan and Miller had most of it covered.
Clarke: 6/10: Didn't have a tantrum today, that's got to be worth something.
Subs not used: Supple, Casement. MOTM- De Vos without a doubt.

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