The U's lost 2-1 at Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon with Kevin Lisbie grabbing the U's goal

Colchester United slumped to their fourth successive defeat here at Selhurst Park yesterday as Neil Warnock's Crystal Palace came out on top by the odd goal in three. Phil Ifil was credited with an own goal which was cancelled out a minute later by Kevin Lisbie but Ben Watson scored the home side's winner with sixteen minutes remaining.

United, who seem to have only bad luck these days, were again victims. The ball appeared to go out of play for the first goal, while Watson's goal was scored following a cross that took two deflections to land at the feet of the goal scorer. Kevin Lisbie then had a late goal disallowed for offside with his arguments leading to a yellow card. In truth though, the U's hardly worked Julian Speroni in the Palace goal.

Williams did, at least, make changes from the side beaten in midweek. Out went Vernon and Kevin McLeod - only the ex-Blackpool man making the bench - and Bela Balogh as in came John White, Karl Duguid and Clive Platt. White resumed at fullback with Duguid on the right hand side of midfield. Jackson moved out to the left-hand side of the U's midfield with Dean Hammond playing alongside Kem Izzet in the middle of the park.

Palace had Republic of Ireland international Clinton Morrison lining up with former Ipswich Town striker Jamie Scowcroft up front while Victor Moses and Lees Hills were just a couple of the talented youngsters currently coming through at Palace. Former U's man Neil Danns was ruled out through injury.

After arriving at the ground and taking up my seat I have to say that I was astounded at the view. As I always understood it, the game of football is all about goals. Why then, where Crystal Palace allowed to sell full price tickets for seats where a large pillar (big enough to be climbed up by a cameraman) completely obstructed the view - not only for me but for others similarly situated. Thankfully, the helpful stewards did allow me and my father to find an alternative viewpoint however, this was at the back of the stand where binoculars are required!

Palace started brightly with Soares slicing over as the ball came all the way through from a left-wing cross which the U's - as they would do all game - failed to deal with. Similarly, from the other wing this time, and it was Watson who shanked his shot so badly when in loads of space inside the area, that the ginger midfielder held his head in his hands.

Speroni dropped a Jackson corner but no U's man was in close enough attendance as the ball was hacked to safety before referee Joslin started his confusing performance. Lisbie had turned Lawrence and was about to race away towards goals - albeit he was still in his own half - when he was clearly and deliberately pulled back by the former Wycombe defender. I am puzzled as to why no yellow card was shown.

On 21 minutes Palace took the lead thanks to the second own goal in a week from Paul Ifil. The home side worked a yard of space for Moses to whip in a great cross which the U's had no answer too. Scowcroft and Coyne both missed it which left Ifil being unfortunate enough to turn the ball past Gerken for the second time in five days.

Ninety seconds later, the scores were back level with a really calmly taken goal by Kevin Lisbie. The United striker picked up on a pass from Clive Platt, went past a challenge on the edge of the box and just side footed it past Speroni. Sometime, Lisbie looks as though he doesn't know what to do in those circumstances - today, he took it perfectly.

The U's might then have been able to add to that as Hammond - having a good afternoon in the middle of the park -got to the by-line and fired the ball across the six yard box (a better touch and he might have had a shot). However, no U's player had gambled themselves and got in to the six yard box and the chance was gone.

Watson then smacked a thirty yard free kick against Dean Gerken's crossbar as the U's keeper stood and watched and, when the ball was turned back in to the U's area, Scowcroft headed just wide. Morrison was even closer, his header flicking the outside of the far post, as the U's struggled to cope with Moses' commanding performance on the right-hand side.
As the half came to a close John White and Kem Izzet both went in to the referee's notebook - the U's fullback the unluckier of the two - but before Gerken had to fling himself to his left to tip away a header from a Palace attacker following a free-kick. All in all though, and the U's could be reasonably satisfied with their first half performances playing in to the strong wide and rain that was sweeping Selhurst Park.

It was united who started brightly in the second period with a delightful cross from Ifil almost reaching Platt in front of goal. Virgo had to be alert to head away after Morrison had headed Scowcroft's cross straight in to the air inside the six yard box.
Hammond should have been celebrating his first U's goal shortly afterwards. A delightful pass from Duguid set right-back Phil Ifil away down the right. He picked out the former Brighton man with his cross but under pressure Hammond headed the ball wide when he really should have at least made Speroni work.

Palace manager Neil Warnock was the first manager to try something different as Ashley Robinson replaced midfield Shaun Derry. It almost paid dividends as Palace thought they had taken the lead through Morrison header. Referee Joslin awarded a dubious free-kick to the home side which was curled in to the box by Watson. Scowcroft got his header to the ball at the far post and headed back across goal where it rebounded off the woodwork. With Gerken stranded, Morrison had the simplest to tasks to head in to an empty net but as he wheeled away in celebration, he spotted the Assistant's flag up for offside.

Sixteen minutes remaining were left on the clock when Palace did score the decisive third goal of the game. It came, not surprisingly, from the U's left where John White was given a torrid time. Ashley Robinson's cross appeared to take two deflections as it made its way in to the box and fell absolutely perfectly for Ben Watson to thump home without breaking stride. It was just reward for the number of crosses that Palace who put in to our box, and just may be something that United could use in future games.

Shortly after the goal, Williams made his first change with Medy Elito coming on for just his second game in the first team. Perhaps surprisingly, Scott Vernon remained on the bench though Williams was to bring him on with three minutes remaining. Quite what he thought he could do in three minutes is anyone's guess.

With just minutes remaining, the U's had what they thought was a perfectly good goal cancelled out. After a swift U's break, Ifil played a wonderful ball through the Palace defence to Lisbie who slid the ball home only to turn round in horror and see the linesman's flag. Lisbie was booked for his prolonged protests as he obviously felt that he had come from behind the man to score.

With that went the U's chances of gaining that desperate needed win to give themselves any chance of survival. They now face three crucial home games - Sheffield Wednesday, Cardiff City and Hull City - which they cannot afford to make any slip-ups in. That will probably get them back to the rest of the table, and from there they'll need promotion form to stave off a return to League One after two seasons.

Shot of the Match: Ben Watson's thumping free-kick in the first half fairly rattled off the crossbar.
Save of the Match: Gerken had to fling himself across his goal to keep out a first half header deep in to injury time.
Moment of the Match: When the Assistant raised his flag against Lisbie after the former Charlton man had seemingly equalised.
Man of the Match: There were few outstanding performances in what was generally, an adept team performance. Hammond impressed in the centre of midfield while Coyne and Virgo competed well. However, my MOTM goes to Phil Ifil who I thought just shaded it with work at both ends of the field.

Crystal Palace: Speroni, Butterfield, Lawrence, Hill, Hills (Fonte 79), Moses (Scannell 84), Derry (Robinson 63), Watson, Soares, Scowcroft, Morrison.
Subs Not Used: Fletcher, Hughes.

Booked: Hill, Robinson.

Goals: Ifil 21 og, Watson 74.

Colchester: Gerken, Ifil, Coyne, Virgo, White, Duguid, Izzet (Elito 77), Hammond, Jackson, Platt (Vernon 87), Lisbie.
Subs Not Used: Bankole, Watson, Balogh.

Booked: White, Izzet, Lisbie.

Goals: Lisbie 23.

Att: 13,895

Ref: Phil Joslin (Nottinghamshire).

Photo: Action Images

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