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- For what it's worth: "Newcastle United Interested In £4m Rated QPR Playmaker"
- Video Snippet from Yesterday's Crystal Palace Game
- QPR one of the clubs interested in Bohemians' Paddy Madden?
- Flashback: Spurs Sign Kyle Walker!
- Premier League face potential 'Bosman' of TV rights
- Birthday for Steve Wicks
- Past Manager-of-the-Month Winners
- Video: Couple of Past QPR Wins Over Next Opponents, Norwich
- Ian Holloway Recalls QPR's Win at Old Trafford!
- "...We will be massive underdogs but the underdog doesn't always roll over and die. I know this because I was in the QPR team which went to Old Trafford on New Year's Day, 1992, and shocked everyone by winning 4-1.
- No one gave us a chance and, at the end, I remember our assistant manager, Frank Sibley, telling us how people would be talking about this game for a long time. I thought: "what's he on about? We've won a football match, that's all." I didn't realise the significance of the scoreline. But he was right because even now, on the very rare occasions Man United get beat by that score, I get journalists ringing asking for memories of our win.
- My main recollection of the day was Gerry Francis' team-talk before kick-off. I was so nervous about playing at Old Trafford I was on the toilet. I remember shouting through into the dressing-room: "It's OK gaffer, I can hear you." But I didn't need to be in the team-talk because we were 2-0 up after eight minutes and I hadn't touched the ball.
- That must have been the secret to it – keep the ball away from Holloway lads, we're doing better without him! Our striker Dennis Bailey had a blinder. Everything he did came off and he scored a great hat-trick. I don't think I've ever seen Steve Bruce get the run-around like he did that day. The odd thing was that turned out to be the high point of Dennis' career. He started in the same vein the following week at Everton but then got injured, and never actually played at that same level again. There were a couple of things in our favour that day. United left out Andrei Kanchelskis and Ryan Giggs and their team looked a bit shocked about that. That definitely helped us. But we still had to go there and upset the applecart – and that's what we haven't done at Blackpool yet..." Indepedent
QPR's WIN AT CRYSTAL PALACE
1 QPR 10 21 26
2 Cardiff 10 8 20
3 Norwich 10 4 19
4 Watford 10 9 18
5 Ipswich 10 4 18
6 Burnley 10 7 16
7 Reading 10 5 16
QPR Official Site - WARNOCK: 'A FANTASTIC START'
Neil Warnock paid tribute to Heidar Helguson's last-gasp winner against Crystal Palace, as the R's made it an unbelievable eight wins from their opening ten league fixtures.
Rangers were heading to a solitary goal win before Kieron Cadogan's 89th minute equaliser looked to have given the Eagles a share of the spoils.
But the Hoops didn't despair - much to the delight of the elated QPR gaffer, and over 3,000 R's fans who made the short trip to South London.
Warnock told www.qpr.co.uk: "It's took the best header I've seen in years to win the game.
"I thought Helguson was absolutely outstanding today. I wish I'd have had him a few years ago.
"It was just a fantastic goal. He's jumped miles ahead of everybody else and put it in.
"You could say we were fortunate today, but I don't think so, we looked solid.
"My lot don't know when they're beaten. We were two nil down at Derby in the 93rd minute and got a draw."
He added: "We're really enjoying it at the minute.
"I've never seen (Shaun) Derry and (Clint) Hill play better. I'm really proud of the lads like that.
"Jamie Mackie and Tarbs (Adel Taarabt) had a bit of a go at each other at half-time.
"And then he (Mackie) goes and unselfishly gives him (Taarabt) that tap-in. It's what it's all about.
"I can't speak highly enough of them. It's just a fantastic start.
"I'm looking forward to the next two weeks, because I need a break!"
http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/TheGaffer/0,,10373~2172975,00.html
CRYSTAL PALACE OFFICIAL SITE - Burley : We Got Ourselves Back In The Game
George Burley told the press conference after the game that conceding an injury time goal and suffer a 2-1 defeat was the biggest disappointment of the afternoon.
"After conceding a bad goal to go behind we hung in there and worked hard as we created opportunities but were naive after we scored. After we got back in the game we should have gone on the front foot in their half but instead went the other way.
Queens Park Rangers are an experienced outfit and have a strong set of players. In the last few days we have played two sides are at the top of the division and even though we have nine or ten players out we have put in good performances and the youngsters have continued to do well.
Julian Speroni received a yellow card for his comments after the referee gave the winner and it certainly looked liked an incident which could have been called in his favour on another day.
"Julian went up to catch the ball but its one of those decisions that can go either way. The referees usually give those decisions on the side of the goalkeeper but it was not to be this afternoon. Julian is a top goalkeeper and once again he was tremendous today."
The first goal was down to an individual mistake from Edgar Davids on his home debut and he had to leave the field soon after due to injury.
"Edgar Davids got a knock in the first half so that may have affected the pass which put them in for their first. You would think with his experience passing back from there wouldn't have happened, but he did. Credit to our lads even after that setback we kept going and did get ourselves back in the game.
"After you do get yourself back in, you should not then lose the game in injury time and to see that happen was the biggest disappointment of the afternoon for me."
Palace got on level terms courtesy of a combined effort from two of their youngsters who continue to impress in the Championship.
"Wilfried Zaha is still learning and someone who you need to keep encouraging to take people on in dangerous areas. He showed a tremendous piece of skill to set up Kieron Cadogan for the goal."
http://www.cpfc.co.uk/page/ManagersComments/0,,10323~2172973,00.html
Observer - QPR's Heidar Helguson gives Neil Warnock happy return to Crystal Palace
Press Association guardian.co.uk, Saturday 2 October 2010 22.54
Heidar Helguson got QPR out of jail with a late winner as Neil Warnock's side marched on and gave their manager a happy return to Crystal Palace.
Warnock moved across London to join Rangers last March after the Eagles went into administration, and his new side are making an impressive start to this season in the Championship. Yet they needed the dramatic intervention of the Iceland striker Helguson to make it eight wins and two draws from their opening 10 games.
Adel Taarabt put Rangers ahead just after half-time, but the Palace substitute Kieron Cadogan levelled two minutes from time. However, Helguson struck in stoppage time to keep the Hoops six points clear at the top and on course for a return to the top flight after 15 years.
Warnock hailed Helguson's winner as one of the finest headed goals he has seen. The Palace goalkeeper, Julian Speroni, felt he was fouled but the QPR manager said: "They were complaining but I think they were just disappointed with the timing. He is up miles above everyone. Heidar was outstanding. It was one of the best headed goals I've seen in years."
The Palace manager, George Burley, admitted his side showed their inexperience after they drew level. Burley said: "Maybe we were a bit naive after scoring the goal and should have gone on the front foot, not the back foot. QPR are a very good side, experienced and strong."
Rangers went ahead three minutes after the interval when the Dutch veteran Edgar Davids hit a woefully short backpass to leave Speroni in no man's land and allow Jamie Mackie plenty of time to round the keeper and unselfishly tee up Taarabt for a tap-in.
Palace were level when the youngsters Wilfred Zaha and Cadogan combined in style. Zaha skinned Clint Hill with a superb piece of skill and crossed for Cadogan to fire past Paddy Kenny. But Rangers were not finished and when the substitute Tommy Smith swung in a cross, Helguson challenged Speroni and bundled the ball home.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/oct/02/crystal-palace-qpr-championship
Independent
Helguson header hands Warnock win on return
Crystal Palace 1 Queens Park Rangers 2
By Paul Newman at Selhurst Park
Neil Warnock made a winning return to Selhurst Park but it took a controversial injury time goal to earn his Queens Park Rangers team their eighth victory in 10 Championship fixtures this season.
Rangers, the only unbeaten side in the division and enjoying their best start for 35 years, had only just conceded an equaliser when Heidar Helguson beat Julian Speroni to Tommy Smith's cross and headed into an empty net, but Palace's goalkeeper claimed that the striker had impeded him. Speroni's furious protests were rewarded only with a yellow card.
Warnock could see nothing wrong with the goal. George Burley, his successor as Palace manager, wondered whether Helguson might have handled but was more concerned with his team's naivety in pushing forward for a winner.
If it was a desperately disappointing finish for a youthful Palace side who had worked hard to find a way back, Rangers' experience always looked likely to count.
The contrast between the sides was typified by their attacks. Having taken off the ineffective Pablo Counago at half time, Palace were left with a front line comprising three youngsters, Kieran Djilali, Wilfried Zaha and Kieron Cadogan, with three goals between them. Rangers, meanwhile, fielded an impressive front three of Adel Taarabt, Helguson and Jamie Mackie.
The first half was a story of missed half-chances. Rangers saw Kaspars Gorkss head against the bar and Speroni keep out Taarabt's strike and Mackie's follow-up, while for Palace Andrew Dorman struck a post, Zaha forced a smart double save from Paddy Kenny and Hogan Ephraim cleared off the line from Julian Bennett.
The match turned on a dreadful mistake early in the second half by home debutant Edgar Davids. Mackie intercepted Davids' back pass and rounded Speroni before unselfishly setting up Taarabt from close range. Davids, who had been carrying an injury, was soon substituted.
Palace responded with admirable energy and Zaha produced a moment of magic in the penalty area to set up Cadogan's 89th minute equaliser, only for Helguson to deliver his killer blow Independent
BBC - Adel Taarabt and Jamie Mackie helped maintain QPR's superb start to the season
Heidar Helguson's winner three minutes into stoppage-time snatched a victory for QPR which keeps them six points clear at the top of the Championship.
Jamie Mackie intercepted a woeful back-pass from Edgar Davids before teeing up Adel Taarabt to put Rangers ahead.
Palace looked to have rescued a point when substitute Kieron Cadogan fired past Paddy Kenny in the 89th minute.
But the visitors stole the points when substitute Tommy Smith crossed for Helguson to bundle the ball home.
QPR's ninth victory in 10 games keeps the west Londoners right on track for promotion to the Premier League, while Palace remain rooted in the bottom three.
It could have been a different story for the hosts, who made an impressive start when midfielder Owen Garvan crashed a shot against the post in the fourth minute.
606: DEBATE
The fighting spirit that Warnock has infused into the team is nothing short of phenomenal
ExiledR
Rangers goalkeeper Kenny pulled off a superb double save from Wilfried Zaha, before the visitors broke to the other end and Palace stopper Julian Speroni had to be at his best to keep out Mackie's effort.
Neil Warnock's league leaders came even closer to taking the lead when Kaspars Gorkss deflected Helguson's drilled ball across goal and on to the crossbar.
The deadlock was broken three minutes after half-time when Dutch legend Davids under-hit a pass to Kenny, inviting Mackie to round the keeper and square for Taarabt to tap home.
Palace went in pursuit of an equaliser with substitute Anthony Gardner, Zaha and Calvin Andrew also going close.
The goal arrived two minutes from time when Zaha eluded Clint Hill with a superb piece of skill and crossed for Cadogan to smash the ball past Kenny.
But Rangers are making a habit of winning and Helguson's late intervention ensured a happy return for Warnock to his former club and kept QPR on course for a return to the top flight after 15 years.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/9042037.stm
News of the World - HELGUSON WINS IT LATE
HEIDAR HELGUSON'S controversial stoppage- time winner maintained Rangers' six-point lead at the top as Palace hearts were broken.
George Burley's injury-ravaged Eagles, missing no fewer than 10 players, thought they had snatched an 89th-minute equaliser through substitute Kieron Cadogan.
But Helguson rounded off a pulsating London derby to give QPR boss Neil Warnock three more points against the club he quit earlier this year.
To make matters worse for Palace, Edgar Davids had a home debut to forget - gifting QPR their 49th-minute opener before being hauled off six minutes later.
The Dutchman, 37, played a woeful backpass into the path of Jamie Mackie, who provided Adel Taarabt with a simple tap-in.
Helguson's winner came as he went for the same ball as Palace keeper Julian Speroni, who was convinced he was fouled by the Icelandic striker and was booked for his protests.
Burley admitted: "Julian was very upset as he felt Helguson jumped with his hand up. It could have gone either way but it's so disappointing after working so hard to leave with nothing."
Warnock saw nothing wrong with the goal, adding: "It was one of the best headers I've seen.
"As for Palace, if they play every week like they did against my team, they'd be in the play-offs. They were a credit to the club."
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/1012167/Crystal-Palace-1-QPR-2.html
STAR - CRYSTAL PALACE 1 QPR 2: HEIDAR HELGUSON WINS IT LATE FOR BOSS NEIL WARNOCK
QPR boss Neil Warnock was celebrating victory against his old club – thanks to Heidar Helguson’s last-gasp winner.
Warnock also had Edgar Davids to thank as the veteran had a shocker on his Crystal Palace home debut.
Davids was dragged out of retirement to play for Palace and he looked ring-rusty at Selhurst Park.
His appalling back-pass led to Adel Taarabt’s goal early in the second half and the 74-times capped Dutchman looked off the pace with his passing.
And Davids, 37, was hauled off before the hour mark clutching his groin – but injury would only be an excuse for his dreadful performance.
He almost had his blushes spared when Kieron Cadogan levelled late on before Helguson’s goal settled it.
Warnock said: “It’s a fantastic start for us and we have to enjoy it over the international break.
“Heidar was outstanding and it was one of the best headed goals I’ve seen in years.”
Victory means table-topping QPR are unbeaten for the first 10 matches – the last time they managed that was during the glory days of Stan Bowles in the 1976 season.
All eyes on were on Warnock as he spent two-and-a-half years at Palace before leaving in March and he got a mixed reception from fans on his second return since his departure.
This time last year, Warnock’s Palace thrashed Blackpool and were dreaming of the play-offs – now the club is lucky just to exist.
Things are so different at QPR for Warnock now. He has brought keeper Paddy Kenny in at Loftus Road and he was in great form in the early stages.
His first save was a tip on to the post from Andrew Dorman from a Davids free-kick. Then Kenny made a double block from winger Wilfried Zaha.
Davids’ job was to protect the defence and look after Taarabt but it’s impossible to keep the Moroccan quiet all the time.
On one occasion he nutmegged Alex Marrow and unleashed a drive that Julian Speroni saved and the Palace keeper still had work to do to bravely block Helguson’s rebound effort.
Hogan Ephraim was the next to test Speroni when he fizzed a cross over which needed palming away.
The visitors got even closer when Kaspars Gorkss headed against the bar from a corner although it was not one-way traffic.
Palace finished the first half strongly and Dorman had an effort superbly blocked by Clint Hill. When the corner was swung in, Julian Bennett saw his shot cleared off the line by Ephraim.
But all that hard work was undone by Davids’ terrible blunder four minutes after the break. There was no danger when he decided to pass back but he sold Speroni well short.
Jamie Mackie nipped in and took it around the keeper before squaring it for Taarabt to tap home.
Palace thought they had earned a point when Cadogan volleyed in Zaha’s cross. But Helguson’s late header was the difference although Palace were furious as they thought he fouled the keeper when he met Tommy Smith’s cross.
Palace boss George Burley said: “After conceding a bad goal we hung on and created a number of chances.
“Maybe we were a bit naive after scoring the goal and should have gone on the front foot, not the back foot.”
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/156633/Crystal-Palace-1-QPR-2-Heidar-Helguson-wins-it-late-for-boss-Neil-Warnock/
QPR Official Site
Heidar Helguson's dramatic second-half stoppage time winner saw QPR preserve their six-point lead at the top of the Championship in an outstanding London derby against Crystal Palace.
The R's took the lead on 49 minutes after Jamie Mackie capitalised on a misjudged Edgar Davids back-pass to round the keeper and square for Adel Taarabt, who tucked away from close range.
Palace thought they'd snatched a point on 89 minutes after Kieron Cadogan smashed home Wilfried Zaha's centre.
But such is the spirit in the Rangers camp at present, they fought back to claim the win.
Substitute Tommy Smith broke clear down the left before hanging a cross into the penalty area for Helguson, who rose highest to stoop home and force victory for the R's.
Rangers remained unchanged in a 4-2-3-1 formation, as Clint Hill and Shaun Derry respectively both returned to Palace for the first time since their summer transfers to QPR.
Paddy Kenny was in goal, behind a defence of Kyle Walker, Matt Connolly, Kaspars Gorkss and Hill.
Derry and Akos Buzsaky starred just in front of the back four, with Mackie, Taarabt and Hogan Ephraim operating further forward.
Helguson spearheaded the Hoops attack.
It was a cauldron of noise at Selhurst Park as the match got off and underway - and Palace came within inches of finding the net inside five minutes.
Following a high ball into the box from the right, Andrew Driver's knockdown fell to Owen Garvan 12-yards out, and the midfielder dragged that smashed against the right-hand post before the ball was cleared up field.
Play then switched to the other end, however, where Rangers were equally as unfortunate not to find the net.
Mackie started and ended the move, linking with Derry and Ephraim, whose reverse pass sent the R's attacker though on goal before Julian Speroni raced out of his net to clear the ball the safety.
Moments later, Kenny was on hand to twice deny Zaha, who broke free down the right before smashing his initial effort - and subsequent rebound - straight at the Rangers keeper.
The R's then wasted two excellent opportunities to net within a matter of minutes, with Speroni twice coming to the home side's rescue.
First, the Eagles keeper thwarted Mackie when reacting first to an effort from Adel Taarabt that he parried, just when the Hoops forward looked certain to open the scoring.
Shortly after, Speroni had to be alert to tip away an Ephraim centre, with Helguson ready and waiting to fire home from close range in the penalty area.
Rangers smashed the woodwork just short of the half-time whistle.
Taarabt's stunning centre was cleared only as far as Walker on the penalty spot, who with his back to goal fed Helguson on the right-hand side of the area.
The Icelandic striker looped a high ball into the six-yard box that smashed off the head of a Palace defender and onto the crossbar before the ball was cleared to safety.
Palace, in truth, could equally have been ahead at the break.
Julian Bennett's thumping header from a corner looked certain to be heading for the bottom left-hand side of the net, before Ephraim was on hand to block the effort away from the target.
Just less than five minutes had passed on the second half clock before the R's forced their way into the lead.
It was a moment of madness from Edgar Davids, whose pass back to the keeper didn't possess nearly enough power as it should have done, allowing Mackie to race clear of the Palace defence.
Mackie then rounded Speroni before unselfishly squaring the ball back to Taarabt, who had the easiest of tasks to tap home from close range,
QPR almost added a second goal minutes later.
Taarabt's beautiful corner from the right was met by the head of Helguson, who could only nod a header wide of the target.
Credit to Palace, following the R's opening strike, they put the visitors under a huge amount of pressure in the second half, though in truth they failed to really trouble Kenny between the R's sticks.
Neil Warnock decided to mix things up by introducing Smith for Taarabt, who left the field to a tremendous applause from the travelling QPR faithful.
Buzsaky then fired in a free-kick from fully 30 yards that was well held by Speroni at his left-hand post.
Moments later, Garvan's brilliantly curled cross into the box caused all sorts of confusion in the R's ranks, with Kenny's touch only just falling wide of the target for a corner.
The Eagles continued to push for a late equaliser, and their pressure told when they drew level on 89 minutes.
Zaha - a constant thorn in the R's side for the duration of the affair - broke free down the right before crossing for Cadogan, who did well with the ball slightly behind him to fire home from 10-yards out.
Many teams would have capitulated after being handed such a late blow - but not the R's, who fought back to claim all three points in second-half stoppage time.
After five minutes of added time went up on the board, Smith broke free down the left before crossing superbly for Helguson.
The striker leapt excellently to out-jump his marker - as well as the onrushing Speroni - before nodding home into an empty net.
It sparked incredible scenes in the visitors' end, as the R's capped another memorable away day with their eight victory in the opening ten league matches.
Crystal Palace: Julian Speroni, Nathaniel Clyne, Patrick McCarthy, Owen Garvan, Andrew Dorman (Calvin Andrew 79), Wilfried Zaha, Julian Bennett, Edgar Davids (Anthony Gardner 59), Kieran Djilali, Alex Marrow, Pablo Counago (Kieron Cadogan 46).
Subs: Lewis Price, Charlie Holness, Alassane N'Diaye, Stuart O'Keefe.
Goals: Cadogan (89)
Bookings: Dorman (40), Speroni (90)
QPR: Paddy Kenny, Clint Hill, Shaun Derry, Adel Taarabt (Tommy Smith 72), Heidar Helguson, Akos Buzsaky (Mikele Leigertwood 83), Jamie Mackie, Kaspars Gorkss, Kyle Walker, Matt Connolly, Hogan Ephraim.
Subs: Radek Cerny, Martin Rowlands, Patrick Agyemang, Gary Borrowdale, Antonio German.
Goals: Taarabt (49), Helguson (90)
Bookings: Ephraim (18), Hill (66)
Referee: Mr K Friend
Attendance: 17, 171 (3342)
http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10373~51516,00.html
CRYSTAL PALACE OFFICIAL SITE
Crystal Palace were within two minutes of holding Championship table toppers QPR to a draw here at Selhurst Park, after Heidar Helguson's dramatic late winner snatched the three points for Neil Warnock's side.
A mistake three minutes into the second half by Edgar Davids had allowed Adel Taarabt to give Rangers the lead, but Kieron Cadogan had looked to have given the Eagles a late point until Helguson's header a minute from time cancelled won it for Rangers.
Typical of a London derby, the game got off to a blistering start with both sides creating a series of clear opportunities to break the deadlock in what turned out to be an exciting first 45 minutes.
As early as the third minute Palace had struck the woodwork when when Andy Dorman, in for an injured Neil Danns, hit the post from eight yards.
Davids' free kick 20 yards out deflected into the path of Kieran Djilali on the right, and his ball into the box was met by Dorman with a first time left footed effort that bounced into the ground and hit the post.
A minute later Rangers responded when Jamie Mackie, despite looking offside, was released through the middle but was quickly closed down by Julian Speroni.
The Argentine almost turned provider moments later when he collected superbly from a cross and immediately threw the ball out to Owen Garvan. The Irishman collected it just inside his own half and carried it to midway into the Rangers half, drawing in Clint Hill in the process before releasing Wilfried Zaha on the right.
The young striker took the ball down the right channel and unleashed a low effort that Paddy Kenny had to quickly get down to to make the save. The ball rebounded back into Zaha's path, but once again Kenny saved from the striker's first time shot.
There were similar goalkeeping heroics at Palace's end when Speroni was called into action with two decent saves. His first was a two handed parry from Taarabt's long range effort, and then he had to get up quickly to smother Mackie as the Rangers' striker collected the rebound.
The visitors continued to exert pressure on the Palace defence, and after Speroni flicked Hogan Ephraim's dangerous cross out of the path of Mackie at the back post, Heidar Helguson arguably should have done better when his downward header from a corner bounced over the bar.
But Palace looked comfortable throughout the half in soaking up QPR's forward play, and patiently waited for their chances to catch them on the counter attack.
It almost paid off for the Eagles when Djilali broke down the left, dropped his shoulder on the edge of the box to lose his marker and lofted a cross to the back post for Pablo Coungago. But, under pressure from Clint Hill, the Spaniard couldn't direct his header on goal.
Somehow though the scores remained level in the final minutes of the half, despite both sides coming agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock.
Three minutes from the break QPR were denied in a bizarre period of play when Helguson's cross from the byline cannoned off Paddy McCarthy and onto the post so quickly that noone really had any time to react.
For the Eagles, Dorman saw an effort from the corner of the six yard box deflected off for a corner, and then Julian Bennett connected with the resulting set piece but his header was cleared off the line.
Palace came out for the second half with one change, Kieron Cadogan given the nod to take over from Pablo Counago meaning that Zaha moved up to a lone striker's role.
But a mistake two minutes into the restart disrupted all of the home side's plans when Davids failed to see Mackie lurking on the shoulder of McCarthy, and attempted a pass back to Speroni from midway inside his own half.
The former Plymouth Argyle striker latched onto it gratefully, skipped round Speroni and squared it to Taarabt for the simplest of finishes.
The goal led to further changes from Burley, with Davids sacrificed for Anthony Gardner, who slipped into central defence alongside McCarthy with Marrow moving up into midfield.
QPR though were full of confidence and Helguson again should have done better when, unmarked, he headed a corner, while a last ditch touch from Clyne took the ball away from Ephraim as the winger looked to connect with a cross to the back post.
Speroni then had to be aware when Helguson tried a snap shot from 25 yards out, meeting a knock down from Mackie to aim a half volley that the Argentine had to watch all the way and save with both hands.
As the game entered its final 25 minutes, the Eagles suddenly stepped things up. And after Garvan saw his effort blocked on the edge of the box, Marrow showed a clever turn of pace on the left to leave Hill trailing before clipping a cross in that Gorkss just beat Cadogan to.
But they came even closer on 79 minutes when Garvan's free kick from the left was inches from dropping inside the far post, with the slightest of touches from a Rangers defender diverting it at the last moment.
Heads were in hands again four minutes from time when a cross in from the left took Zaha by surprise when he was free six yards out.
But the young striker redeemed himself with two moments of sublime skill.
His first was a clever swivel to leave Hogan Ephraim clueless by the byline, but his shot from a tight angle was saved at the near post.
His second was arguably even better because this time it ended with a end product. Finding himself closely guarded by Hill in the right channel, a quick drop of the shoulder set him free and this time, instead of looking for the shot, he showed the presence of mind to pull it back to Cadogan for the simplest of finishes.
With Selhurst Park still rocking, Rangers then shocked the Palace support into silence when they went straight back up the other end and restored their lead.
Heidar Helguson was the man responsible when he beat Speroni to a lofted ball into the box and headed into the net. The Argentine was furious at the referee believing he had been fouled by the Rangers striker, but replays showed that the challenge was a fair one, albeit a frustrating one, as the Icelandic international reeled away in celebration.
Stay with www.cpfc.co.uk for George Burley's post match thoughts.
Attendance: 17,171
http://www.cpfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10323~51516,00.html
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