FAC: Crystal Palace 2-0 Swindon Town

2Slick

Shefki Kuqi and Jobi McAnuff ensured Crystal Palace survived a tricky FA Cup third-round encounter against Swindon with a 2-0 win.


THIRD ROUND
Fri., Jan. 5, 2007
Bristol R. 1-0 Hereford Recap
Stoke City 2-0 Millwall Recap
Sat., Jan. 6, 2007
Blackpool 4-2 Aldershot Recap
Barnet vs. Colchester P'poned
Sheff. Utd 0-3 Swansea Recap
Reading vs. Burnley P'poned
Portsmouth 2-1 Wigan Recap
Doncaster 0-4 Bolton Recap
West Ham 3-0 Brighton Recap
Leicester 2-2 Fulham Recap
Derby 3-1 Wrexham Recap
Wolves 2-2 Oldham Recap
Chester 0-0 Ipswich Recap
Tamworth 1-4 Norwich Recap
Nott. Forest 2-0 Charlton Recap
Preston 1-0 Sunderland Recap
Liverpool 1-3 Arsenal* Recap
Watford 4-1 Stockport Recap
Palace 2-1 Swindon Recap
Bristol City 3-3 Coventry Recap
P'borough 1-1 Plymouth Recap
QPR 2-2 Luton Recap
Southend 1-1 Barnsley Recap
West Brom 3-1 Leeds Recap
Hull 1-1 Middlesbrough Recap
B'mingham 2-2 Newcastle Recap
Torquay 0-2 S'hampton Recap
Chelsea 6-1 Macclesfield Recap
Sun., Jan. 7, 2007
Man Utd vs. Aston Villa*
Sheff. Wed. vs. Man City
Everton vs. Blackburn Preview
Cardiff vs. Tottenham*
*Airs on FSC Schedule
Front | All Rounds

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With Palace enduring an inconsistent season in the Championship and the Robins flying high in League Two, the beaten finalists of 1990 were expecting a stern test from the visitors.

Kuqi settled their nerves early on but Swindon proved a real handful with some slick moves which should have brought greater reward before McAnuff grabbed a second after the break.

To Swindon's credit they refused to lie down and hit back through Jerel Ifil late on, but it was Peter Taylor's side who edged into the next round.

The magic of the FA Cup had failed to cause much of a stir in south London with Selhurst barely half-full, although 2,500 hardy Swindon fans travelled down from Wiltshire intent on creating an atmosphere despite the atrocious conditions.

They nearly had something to cheer in the opening moments when a clever reverse pass from on-loan Fulham midfielder Michael Timlin found Ricky Shakes, but his shot went straight at Palace goalkeeper Scott Flinders.

But Palace were soon on top and McAnuff had already fired a low shot narrowly wide before they took an eighth-minute lead from a corner.

Stuart Green swung in an inviting cross and Kuqi rose above a crowded penalty area to powerfully head home his fifth goal of the season.

The Robins almost hit back in identical fashion five minutes later but the unmarked Jamie Vincent headed Timlin's corner into the ground and wide of the far post.

Vincent, who started his career with Palace, was then involved at the other end when he appeared to block a goalbound Kuqi shot with an arm, but referee Kevin Friend waved away the penalty appeals.

Shakes looked to be clean through on the half hour after being played in by Christian Roberts, but Leon Cort got back to make a superb goal-saving tackle.

Michael Pook then sent a header goalwards from Vincent's cross and Cort had to nod the ball over the top from under the crossbar with Palace on the back foot.

Swindon keeper Phil Smith acrobatically palmed away a Green free-kick as the first half drew to a close, before Roberts missed a gilt-edged chance to level shortly after the break.

The striker, who had hit three goals in the competition already, beat the onrushing Scott Flinders to a long ball but, having been forced out wide, he fired his first-time effort over the empty net.

Green then saw a clever chip come back off the Swindon crossbar with Smith motionless before Kuqi headed a McAnuff cross straight at the keeper.

And 20 minutes from time McAnuff popped up on the left corner of the penalty area and lashed home a superb shot high into the net which gave Smith no chance.

Swindon pulled one back when Jerel Ifil nodded Aaron Brown's 84th-minute corner to set up a nervy finish, but Palace saw out four minutes of stoppage-time to book their place in the fourth round.

Kronical™

Glad to see my other English team Palace doing well. 2-0 over Swindon is definitely a good result even though it is early stages. I'd hope for CP to go past the next two rounds as I think they've the team to do so.