The second weekend of the Championship season saw two sides come together whose fortunes could not have been more different in an opening set of league and cup encounters. A heavy opening day defeat and a cup exit for Barnsley whilst Palace recorded two victories but know that it is about the marathon not the first few yards.

George Burley was able to name Neil Danns in a line up for the first time as he returned from suspension whilst defender David Wright made his first start for the club after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Luke Steele was the first of the two keepers be troubled as a good early move saw Kieron Cadogan being found on the right wing and his cross was heading for Darren Ambrose who came in on goal but Steele came out to claim the ball.

 In the opening half an hour neither side could get the upper hand on the game and chances for either side were limited.but then the breakthrough came in unfortunate circumstances for the visitors.  The ball was played out to the left hand side and found Jay McEveley who crossed and the ball was diverted past his own goalkeeper by Paddy McCarthy.

The best spell of the half for pressure came soon after and it was Barnsley who were looking to extend the advantage. On 37 minutes McCarthy stepped in to block a shot from Adam Hammill and then Goran Lovre drilled a shot across the face of goal but wide of the target.

The half came to a close with that own goal seperating the two sides but a disappointing first half with both sides not helped by the blustery conditions the game is being played in.

The start of the second half saw a change from Burley as Neil Danns made his return to action at the expense of Cadogan.

Palace soon had a chance to get themselves on level terms as an Owen Garvan corner found McCarthy but his header went just over the bar as Steele watched on.

Speroni kept the margin at just the one as he produced a fine save low down to deny McEveley as he was played in on the left side of the box.

A much better start to the second half as Garvan's left foot shot was just over the bar and Alan Lee beat his man to the header but his effort just went the wrong side of the post.

The home side were also pressing at the other end and Diego Arismendi shot wide of the target and Kieran Trippier curled an effort from distance but this fell the wrong side of Speroni's goal as far as the Tykes.following were concerned.  

With nine minutes remaining Kieran Djilali came on to add some width on the left but it was fellow sub Danns who soon had the next chance. Chasing down a loose ball he looked to be winning the chase for the ball but the keeper grabbed the ball at the midfielders feet.  Calls from the Palace contingent for a penalty as Danns went down under the challenge were waved away by the official.

Soon after Djilali won a free kick just outside the box but Ambrose's set piece curled just over Steele's bar.

In added time Wilfried Saha made a good run into the box from down the left but his cross towards goal was cleared before the chance could have been converted.

That own goal was in the end to be the goal which gave the home side their first points of the season and some good second half football from Palace wasn't able to be converted into an equaliser and a disappointing defeat for the travelling support on their first trip of the campaign.

Teams:

Barnsley Steele, Hassell, Foster, Shackell, McEveley,Trippier (Devaney 77), Colace (Butterfield 79),Arismendi (Doyle 68), Hammill, Lovre, Gray.

Subs Not Used: Preece, Dickinson, Morales Neumann, Potter.

Booked: McEveley, Hassell, Foster.

Crystal Palace Speroni, Wright, Davis, McCarthy, Clyne,Ambrose, Cadogan (Danns 46), Garvan, Dorman (Djilali 81), Lee,Zaha.

Subs Not Used: Price, Barrett, Andrew, Bennett, Pinney.

Booked: Davis, Wright.

Att: 11,353    Referee : Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire).