Palace hold on for Victory

Palace opened their 2010/11 Championship campaign with a 3-2 victory over Leicester City.

Owen Garvan and Julian Bennett were picked in the starting line-up alongside a strike partnership of Alan Lee and teenager Wilfred Zaha.

It was the front pairing of Lee and Zaha who made the breakthrough for the home side in the 19th minute. Lee's flick-on found Zaha in the box and the 17-year-old finished with a volley past the foxes keeper Chris Weale,it was his first senior goal for Palace.

It wasn't long though before Palace's top scorer last term Ambrose got onto the scoresheet.

Kieron Cadogan very impressive in midfield passed the ball to the former Charlton man just outside the box and he drilled a shot past Weale.

The Eagles found themselves 3-0 up before the break when Cadogan's run and cross found Zaha in the box - after a neat turn and shot Weale could only block his effort into the path of Lee who slotted home on the goal line.

In the second half Leicester were back in the game, a Robbie Neilson cross was met at the back post by Andy King who nodded home to make it 3-1.

Leicester started to dominate the game and had further chances to grab a second goal.

Speroni was equal to efforts by Dyer and King, and Jack Hobbs put a free header wide of the goal from a corner.

Ambrose almost put the game beyond doubt when he broke free but his effort was well blocked by Weale.

Six minutes from time Claude Davis made a hash of a clearance which set up substitute Steve Howard to square the ball to Campbell who finished to make it 3-2.

The Eagles had a nervy last few minutes but managed to hold out to secure an opening day victory.

Palace: Speroni, McCarthy, Davis, Bennett, Clyne, Ambrose, Garvan, Dorman, Cadogan (Andrew, 63), Lee (N'Diaye, 63), Zaha (Djilali, 77)

Subs not used: Price, Barrett, Holland, Holness

Goals: Zaha 19, Ambrose 26, Lee 41

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