Tigers tamed as promotion charge gathers momentum

The Crystal Palace automatic promotion push is well and truly underway as the Eagles recorded their sixth win in a row on their first visit to Hull City's KC Stadium.

The scoreline may suggest a narrow win, but in truth Palace had this in the bag early on and collected a comfortable three points to keep them hot on the heels of leaders Reading and second placed Sheffield United.

Palace boss Iain Dowie said: "We unquestionably deserved to win this game and some of our football in the second half was terrific.

"I was always worried with that one goal advantage but Gabor hardly had any saves to make in the second half . They never really troubled us."

Dowie handed Mark Hudson and Gary Borrowdale the chance to cement first team places due to the injury to Tony Popovic and the suspension of Fitz Hall. He also gave Jon Macken a rare start alongside Andrew Johnson.

But it was who Hudson who grabbed the opportunity with both hands, putting in a towering performance at the back and will be rightly disappointed if he fails to keep his place for Friday's clash with Reading.

The recalled defender had a hand in his centre back partner Darren Ward's opening goal, which continued the ex-Millwall man's hot streak in front of goal.

Hudson rose highest to head Ben Watson's in-swinging free-kick towards goal and Hull keeper Bo Myhill could only parry the ball to Ward who slid in to poke the ball into an empty net after only nine minutes.

Hull responded well to going a goal down and had an effort on goal by Jason Price, before having a penalty appeal rightly turned down after the ball hit Emmerson Boyce's head inside the Eagles box.

The lively Johnson then had his first opportunity which was expertly dealt with by Myhill who sprinted off his line to deny the Palace striker the opportunity to take the ball round him with his first touch after being put through by Jobi McAnuff.

But a minute later Myhill was beaten, this time by his own defender. Wayne Andrews' powerful low cross inside the Hull box was fiercely converted by Tigers defender Leon Cort who slid in to divert the ball into his own net in the 24th minute.

But frustratingly for Dowie, last season's trend of conceding straight after scoring came back to haunt the Eagles, as Hull's new signing Jon Parkin ghosted in behind the Palace defence to place the ball past Kiraly to put his side back in the game.

Johnson and Watson then saw speculative efforts fly over before Price had another long-distance shot which shaved the crossbar just before the interval.

Palace continued their dominance after the restart, but it was the hosts who came closest to scoring when Cort rose to head just wide in his attempt to make up for his first half howler.

But that was the closest the Tigers came to seriously testing Kiraly in the second half as Palace resumed control.

With Hull chasing the game, the Eagles wide men were now starting to find joy on the flanks and it was Andrews who found Macken in space inside the box. The ex-Manchester City striker's low show was well held by Myhill.

Andrews himself then had a shot beaten away by the Hull keeper, before Johnson forced Myhill into action again with a stinging drive from 25 yards which the stopper did well to tip over.

Hull brought on last season's top scorer Stuart Elliott in the hope of bringong some attacking reward, but it was Palace who continued to create the better chances as Johnson came inches away from clinching the points when his close-range shot was blocked on the line.

A nervy final few minutes preceded but long balls into the Palace box were dealt with comfortably by Hudson and Kiraly, as the Eagles held on to claim the three points.

PALACE STAR MAN: Mark Hudson.

An assured performance by arguably the best ball playing centre back at the club. Combined defensive resiliance with good distribution.

Palace: Kiraly 7, Boyce 8, Borrowdale 7, Ward 7, Hudson 9, Andrews 7 (Freedman 77 6), McAnuff 8, Hughes 7 (Riihilahti 86 6), Watson 7, Johnson 8, Macken 8 (Morrison 84 6)