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Kember – Palace are No Hackers
Steve Kember insisted his team are not a dirty side after watching Crystal Palace suffer their fourth sending-off in the first week of the new season.
Midfielder Michael Hughes, making his Eagles debut after signing from Wimbledon in midweek, was the guilty man with two yellows in quick succession towards the end of Palace’s 1-0 win over Watford at Selhurst Park.
The Eagles had two players dismissed in last weekend’s opening-day win at Burnley, while Australian Tony Popovic was sent off during the penalty shoot-out victory over Torquay in the Carling Cup on Tuesday night.
However, Palace boss Kember insisted: “I have looked at the four sending-offs and it gives the impression we are out to kick lumps out of the opposition – but this is not the case.
“And today we lost Michael Hughes with two yellows, the first foul I thought was innocuous tackle and the second booking he seemed to have got committed into a tackle.
“Michael came out with the ball, but told me he was not too pleased with Neil Cox’s reaction at the referee that the tackle was two-footed.”
Palace had to dig in once again for their three points today, which underlines the new spirit at Selhurst Park.
Watford had the better play early on, with Danny Webber heading over the bar from close in.
But immediately at the other end Palace made the Hornets pay as Neil Shipperley scored his first goal since his summer move, also from Wimbledon.
The goal arrived on 14 minutes with Danny Butterfield the provider with a pinpoint cross from the right.
The big striker could not believe the space he was given as he neatly tucked his header low and wide of Alex Chamberlain’s outstretched right hand.
Watford’s boss Ray Lewington was none too pleased with his defence.
“I was annoyed about the goal because you just can’t get players like Shipperley that sort of room in the six-yard box,” he said.
“I thought we made the better start and I was pleased we created quite a few chances, although we failed to take any of them.”
Lewington believes Palace could have a good season. He added: “Kember can manage players and he has got a nice manner about him.
Palace keeper Matt Clarke made two exceptional stops to deny Icelandic international Heidar Helguson and Gavin Mahon, in addition to stopping a couple of goalmouth scrambles.
Lewington, though, was left to reflect on what has been a difficult couple of weeks for everyone at Watford.
“From the human side it was really difficult to lift the players after the tragic death of Jim Davis last week,” he said.
“Danny Webber was a close friend... I didn’t want to play him today, but he insisted he wanted to play.
“He was somewhat subdued out there and I had to substitute him in the second half.”
Steve Kember insisted his team are not a dirty side after watching Crystal Palace suffer their fourth sending-off in the first week of the new season.
Midfielder Michael Hughes, making his Eagles debut after signing from Wimbledon in midweek, was the guilty man with two yellows in quick succession towards the end of Palace’s 1-0 win over Watford at Selhurst Park.
The Eagles had two players dismissed in last weekend’s opening-day win at Burnley, while Australian Tony Popovic was sent off during the penalty shoot-out victory over Torquay in the Carling Cup on Tuesday night.
However, Palace boss Kember insisted: “I have looked at the four sending-offs and it gives the impression we are out to kick lumps out of the opposition – but this is not the case.
“And today we lost Michael Hughes with two yellows, the first foul I thought was innocuous tackle and the second booking he seemed to have got committed into a tackle.
“Michael came out with the ball, but told me he was not too pleased with Neil Cox’s reaction at the referee that the tackle was two-footed.”
Palace had to dig in once again for their three points today, which underlines the new spirit at Selhurst Park.
Watford had the better play early on, with Danny Webber heading over the bar from close in.
But immediately at the other end Palace made the Hornets pay as Neil Shipperley scored his first goal since his summer move, also from Wimbledon.
The goal arrived on 14 minutes with Danny Butterfield the provider with a pinpoint cross from the right.
The big striker could not believe the space he was given as he neatly tucked his header low and wide of Alex Chamberlain’s outstretched right hand.
Watford’s boss Ray Lewington was none too pleased with his defence.
“I was annoyed about the goal because you just can’t get players like Shipperley that sort of room in the six-yard box,” he said.
“I thought we made the better start and I was pleased we created quite a few chances, although we failed to take any of them.”
Lewington believes Palace could have a good season. He added: “Kember can manage players and he has got a nice manner about him.
Palace keeper Matt Clarke made two exceptional stops to deny Icelandic international Heidar Helguson and Gavin Mahon, in addition to stopping a couple of goalmouth scrambles.
Lewington, though, was left to reflect on what has been a difficult couple of weeks for everyone at Watford.
“From the human side it was really difficult to lift the players after the tragic death of Jim Davis last week,” he said.
“Danny Webber was a close friend... I didn’t want to play him today, but he insisted he wanted to play.
“He was somewhat subdued out there and I had to substitute him in the second half.”
