Portsmouth vs Manchester City
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Mark Hughes fielded a strong starting XI but Neil Warnock's Championship side matched their wealthy opponents throughout the first half, before succumbing to second-half goals from Shaun Wright-Phillips and Carlos Tevez.
Speculation prior to kick-off was that Hughes would rest a host of his stars and not give a debut to new signing Joleon Lescott, but a real buzz was sent around Selhurst Park shortly before the game's commencement when the team sheet revealed that would not be the case.
Once the game started though it quickly became clear that Palace were not in awe of their opponents. Tevez sliced a shot wide inside the opening three minutes, but from there Palace had the upper hand in terms of goalscoring opportunities.
Clint Hill forced a save out of Shay Given when heading a free-kick down at the far post, and Victor Moses then made the Irishman work when making it to the by-line moments later. Defensively, Palace were alert too as Nathaniel Clyne read Tevez's attempt to feed Robinho in front of goal and intercepted.
Palace thought they were about to take the lead after 24 minutes when Shaun Derry spotted Freddie Sears's run and split the away defence with a pass, but the youngster came out worse in a duel with the experienced Given. Darren Ambrose followed up shortly after with a rasping drive that flew barely an inch over the bar from 25 yards.
Palace keeper Julian Speroni, who was a fitness doubt before this game, showed no signs of sluggishness as he was then called into action twice in quick succession, first denying Emmanuel Adebayor's curling shot before blocking Tevez at close range, but Given was the last of the two glovesmen to be busied before half-time. Alassane N'Diaye's flicked header set Sears in once more, but Given rushed out and saved the striker's nodded attempt.
The second half picked up where the first left off, but with one major exception: City clicked perfectly on the attack. Their new-found fluency brought them the lead five minutes in, as Wright-Phillips hammered a powerful finish past Speroni after Ireland had freed him with a clever overlapping pass.
Speculation prior to kick-off was that Hughes would rest a host of his stars and not give a debut to new signing Joleon Lescott, but a real buzz was sent around Selhurst Park shortly before the game's commencement when the team sheet revealed that would not be the case.
Once the game started though it quickly became clear that Palace were not in awe of their opponents. Tevez sliced a shot wide inside the opening three minutes, but from there Palace had the upper hand in terms of goalscoring opportunities.
Clint Hill forced a save out of Shay Given when heading a free-kick down at the far post, and Victor Moses then made the Irishman work when making it to the by-line moments later. Defensively, Palace were alert too as Nathaniel Clyne read Tevez's attempt to feed Robinho in front of goal and intercepted.
Palace thought they were about to take the lead after 24 minutes when Shaun Derry spotted Freddie Sears's run and split the away defence with a pass, but the youngster came out worse in a duel with the experienced Given. Darren Ambrose followed up shortly after with a rasping drive that flew barely an inch over the bar from 25 yards.
Palace keeper Julian Speroni, who was a fitness doubt before this game, showed no signs of sluggishness as he was then called into action twice in quick succession, first denying Emmanuel Adebayor's curling shot before blocking Tevez at close range, but Given was the last of the two glovesmen to be busied before half-time. Alassane N'Diaye's flicked header set Sears in once more, but Given rushed out and saved the striker's nodded attempt.
The second half picked up where the first left off, but with one major exception: City clicked perfectly on the attack. Their new-found fluency brought them the lead five minutes in, as Wright-Phillips hammered a powerful finish past Speroni after Ireland had freed him with a clever overlapping pass.
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