NUFC 2 - Crystal Palace 0 

Utd went 3 points clear at the top with a game in hand over crisis club Palace last night.

A decent atmosphere at St James Park last night - crowd decent enough at 37k+ with again massive chunks of open seats in the ‘very shite seats’ of the East Stand and the prawn sandwich seats and they were treated to a pretty shocking performance in the 1st half with the 20 minute OG by Shaun Derry the only real highlight. Palace had a few chances Danny Butterfield and Darren Ambrose going close.

Decent enough effort by Palace but you got the feeling that issues off the field were in the back of their minds also highly-rated striker Victor Moses was pulled out of the game by the club’s administrators, probably to save him from Injury pending a big money deal.

The toon came out in the 2nd half firing with Lovenkrands firing wide on the turn and Carroll blasting an effort across the face of goal.

Neil Danns and Carle then had shots blocked in quick succession as the visitors fought vainly for an equaliser.

With 20 minutes remaining, the Eagles went desperately close to a leveller when Ambrose’s shot came back off the post and Tamas Kadar managed to get a block on Danns’ follow-up.

But their pressure counted for nothing and St James’ Park breathed a sigh of relief four minutes into stoppage time when Ranger raced on to Wayne Routledge’s pass and beat Speroni with ease.

Shite Factor 3/5 - Chant if the day “Theres Only One Peter Stringfellow”

Top of the league with a game in hand going into February - I betya you would have all took that at the start of the season, a follow up win at Leicster is now imperative to push back a little on the pressure we have been facing in recent weeks especially from in form Forest - roll on Saturday tea time…..