Another missed chance but still in touch...

Crystal Palace 0 v 0 Blackpool
Championship - Selhurst Park Stadium. Att: 16,028
Saturday, 29th March 2008

It is nearly 30 years since Blackpool has visited Selhurst Park and in all their history there have been just 26 games between the two side. In the early years of league football Blackpool were one of the top teams, the modern day Arsenal or Manchester United, whilst Palace spent most of their early years in the lower divisions not making it to the top flight until 1969. That rise coincided with Blackpool's decline as they headed for the lower divisions. Surprisingly in all that time the teams had never had a goalless draw so the result seems almost inevitable.

Palace did not have enough penetration and, particularly in the 2nd half, looked one dimensional up-front following the loss of Scowcroft to an injury at half-time. But they should have been handed a chance to get ahead when they had two very good shouts for a penalty turned down by the referee. It could prove costly as failing to score means they missed the chance to ease themselves into the top six and a crucial play-off position. They remain two points behind with five games to go. Relative easy fixtures at home Scunthorpe United (23rd) and Burnley (10th) but have tough away games against Stoke (2nd), Watford (5th) and Hull (3rd). I think they will need 11 points for those 5 games as a minimum to reach the play-offs.