THE EAGLES BEAT A DOWNBEAT BLUES

Blues today were outshone and outclassed by the Eagles under the brilliant leadership from Laura Kaminski who was an assistant last season at Charlton . What a start to her management career and now she is two games away from the WSL . An Elise Hughes goal in the first minute of first half stoppage time was all then enough to beat a Blues side that didn’t have a shot on target at Sutton this afternoon . For Blues it’s another season of what ifs yes, we have a great group of players, and we should be up their but if you’re not learning from your mistakes, you are not going to go nowhere . Emily Simpkins, who was interim gaffer after Darren Carter left by mutual consent on Thursday. She we made two changes with Yuri coming in and Lucy Quinn back in the side playing a 4-3-3 formation. 

FIRST HALF

The first chance of the game came for Blues in the second minute when Lucy Quinn floated a ball into the box, but it was easily claimed by Palace goalkeeper Demi Lambourne .

Blues should have taken the lead in the 20^th minute when Charlie Devlin slipped a pass through to Libby Smith but her shot went over the bar.

Crystal Palace first chance came in the 27^th minute when Izzy Atkinson worked an opening for herself, but her shot was deflected and gathered up by Lucy Thomas.

Then Blues could have scored with Charlie Devlin with her shot from outside of the area was brilliantly blocked from Alexia Potter in the 31^st minute.

Then in the 34^th minute Palace’s Molly-Mae Shape header from a tight angle was blocked.

Then in the 38^th minute Crystal Palace should have taken the lead when Annabel Blanchard was played through, and her shot was well saved from Lucy Thomas .

But the host took the league in the 46^th minute when Blanchard did brilliantly and went pass Lucy Quinn and found Elise Hughes to put it passed Lucy Thomas at the near post.

HALF TIME CRYSTAL PALACE 1-0 BLUES

SECOND HALF

The first opportunity came for Blues when Yuri played the ball into Smith, but her effort went over the bar in the 49^th minute. 

In the 57^th minute the hosts should have made it two when Molly Shape rolled into Annabel Blanchard who turned and found Izzy Atkinson whose shot goes wide of the post.

The 62^nd minute was when Jade Moore was shown her second yellow card and was sent off for a handball.

70^th minute brought the return of Jade Pennock to the team who came on for Yuri.

Then in the 79^th minute Palace really should have put the game too bed when Felicity Gibbons smashed the post from outside the box.

In the 91^st minute Crystal Palace were awarded a penalty when Hughes was brought down in the box . Annabel Blanchard stepped up to take the spot kick but was saved well by Thomas .

FULL TIME CRYSTAL PALACE 1-0 BLUES

MY THOUGHTS ON THE GAME

A disappointing display by the girls in blue but On the positive note it was great to see Jade Pennock back and also another youngster in Alex Hall made it in the match day squad. Overall it has been a disappointing season yet again i think the new gaffer coming in will need to show ruthlessness in game management finishing in the final third and know when to play and more importantly when not to play.

MY PLAYER OF THE MATCH 

It has to go for Elise Hughes for getting the winning goal.

NEXT UP 

Are final home game of the season against Sheffield United  14:00

STEPHEN GILL KRO