Crystal Palace 1 Birmingham 0: Eagles grab vital win as Dikgacoi heads late winner
Whisper it at Selhurst Park but Wembley may just become Crystal Palace’s second home in 2012.
Kagisho Dikgacoi hit a late winner on Monday night as Palace moved within two points of the play-off places.
Victory over Cardiff in the Carling Cup semi-final will book one appearance at the national stadium. And with a bit of luck, Dougie Freedman can mark his first full season as a manager with a second trip to Wembley for the even more significant prize of a place in the Barclays Premier League.
Wilfried Zaha missed last night’s clash through suspension but the England Under 19 international was still the name on everyone’s lips after he signed a new five-and-a-half-year deal.
Palace struggled without him early on as Birmingham enjoyed the brighter start. Chris Burke and Marlon King both missed decent chances before Nathan Redmond hit a 25-yard daisy-cutter that Julian Speroni could only turn round for a corner in the 20th minute.
And Curtis Davies missed a glorious chance to put the visitors ahead from the resultant set-piece as he blazed over from two yards when stretching to meet Guirane N’Daw’s headed flick.
Palace midfielder Mile Jedinak went close in the 23rd minute with a powerful half-volley from 30 yards which was brilliantly saved by Boaz Myhill.
David Murphy then saved Birmingham from falling behind with an excellent last-ditch challenge to deny Nathaniel Clyne.
Speroni palmed out Stephen Caldwell’s looping header in the 53rd minute but Palace went on to dominate the second half. Jedinak was denied by a brilliant point-blank save before Palace skipper Paddy McCarthy hit the post with a close-range header.
But Dikgacoi nipped in front of Davies to glance home Darren Ambrose’s cross in the 84th minute.
Birmingham boss Chris Hughton said: ‘I felt we deserved a draw at least, but games are decided on fine margins. But if you don’t put the ball in the back of the net then you can get punished.’ - http://www.dailymail.co.uk
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