Eagles eaten up and spat out by Magpies

Carling Cup Round One

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PETER Taylor showed a new emotion after last night's Carling Cup defeat to Notts County, disappointment.

The Palace boss gave senior players who have not had a first team start this season the chance to impress against League Two Magpies.

And despite taking the lead through Michael Hughes in the first half, County came back from behind to win 2-1 and leave the Eagles out of the competition.

Taylor said: "I'm very disappointed and I thought it was a very poor performance, so Notts County probably deserved to win the match.

"I'm sure there have been plenty of players who wanted to knock on my door to see why they aren't in the team and I told them to convince me tonight but I shouldn't think there will be too many knocking on my door now."

Palace were one of nine Championship clubs to exit the competition against opposition from a lower league but it was of no comfort to Taylor who felt the side he picked had more than enough experience and talent to see off the Magpies.

He said: "I'm disappointed because any club needs a good cup run and I'm disappointed about the performance because I know the players are 10 times better than what they showed.

"We certainly didn't do enough to deserve the win and the performance wasn't good enough but the team was good enough to win the match.

"We've had players who have played four or five matches over just a couple of weeks and they needed a rest but I felt the team which went out tonight was good enough to beat Notts County."

He added: "I'm very disappointed and I will apologise to my chairman when I phone him up later.

"The fans have paid money to come and watch and they are right to be disappointed.

"I think they accepted the team selection but they didn't accept the performance and I agree with them."

Scott Flinders was handed his debut in goal while Hughes, Gary Borrowdale, Darren Ward and Marco Reich made their first appearances of the season. There were also places on the bench for young professionals Lewwis Spence, Charlie Sheringham and Arron Fray.

But goals from Lawrie Dudfield and Dan Martin swallowed Hughes' opener and earned the Magpies a place in round two.

With so many changes to the side it was no surprise Palace started slowly and they very nearly went behind in the fourth minute as Martin's long range skidding drive flew just wide.

Clinton Morrison, starting for only the second time this season, went close for Palace in the 11th minute but he could not connect properly with Dougie Freedman's low cross from the right and his effort went narrowly wide of the post.

Notts had been given a warning and in the 17th minute Palace took the lead.

Reich's ball from the left was moved on to Hughes via Morrison and the midfielder controlled the ball before jinking past two defenders and firing an unstoppable shot past Saul Deeney from 10 yards out.

The League Two side's heads did not drop though and they equalised in the 23rd minute.

A ricochet in midfield allowed Martin to lob a ball over the top to Dudfield who took his chance early, smashing a volley past Flinders into the top corner.

After their goal County looked the stronger side and they caused a few anxious moments in the Palace defence with a number of well-flighted free-kicks.

However, it was Palace who came closest to scoring again but Freedman's 42nd minute header was blocked on the goal line by a County defender.

Palace came out for the second-half and they looked a completely different team straight away.

Some good work from Freedman led to Ben Watson striking the side netting within seconds of the re-start and it looked as if the Eagles had certainly been given an ear bashing at the interval.

However, after a promising start Palace seemed to fade and after 60 minutes Tcham N'Toya curled a shot from the edge of the area just wide of Flinders' net.

Five minutes later Martin had a great chance to score as he was allowed acres of space to head towards goal from an Ian Ross cross but he could only head straight at Flinders.

Palace were getting plenty of possession, with Freedman in particular looking lively, but there was no end product.

In fact County manager Steve Thompson was becoming increasingly confident of nicking a result as he brought on pacy forward Junior Mendes.

In the 73rd minute another chance came and went for Jon Macken as Palace started to become frustrated.

On 78 minutes Taylor brought on Tommy Black for the ineffective Macken and debutant Spence in an effort to prevent the game going to extra time, but the County defence was holding firm.

Palace were struggling to get any sort of grip on the game and in the 85th minute County stunned the hosts with a well-worked goal.

Substitute Liam Needham found space on the left and his low cross was turned in by an unmarked Martin.

Hughes came close for Palace with a long-range shot with a few minutes left but try as they might the Eagles could not find an equaliser.

MATCH FACTS: PALACE: Flinders, Lawrence, Ward, Hudson, Borrowdale, Freedman, Watson, Hughes, Reich (Spence, 78), Morrison, Macken (Black, 78).

SUBS NOT USED: Speroni, Fray, Sheringham.

ATT: 4,481.

With thanks to CPFC.