Crystal Palace have started their new Premier League season by beating Norwich City 3-1 at Carrow Road this afternoon.
Wilfried Zaha gave Palace the lead just before half time when he turned in Jason Puncheon's cross at the back post.
The Eagles added a second goal shortly after the break as Damien Delaney slotted in from close range following a corner.
Norwich pulled a goal back through Nathan Redmond, who drilled a strike from range into the bottom corner.
Cameron Jerome then had a goal ruled out for a high foot, before Yohan Cabaye added a third for the visitors in stoppage time, as the Canaries slipped to a defeat on their return to the top flight.
Find out how the action unfolded below.
Good afternoon everyone! It's been 72 long days, but the Premier League is finally back! There's a host of great games taking place this weekend, but our coverage today will be focused on the events at Carrow Road, where newly-promoted Norwich City take on Crystal Palace.
The home fans are sure to be in full voice this afternoon when the Canaries take to the pitch, as they will play their first match back in the Premier League following a season in the Championship. It's sure to be a gruelling campaign, but a win today would certainly provide a morale-boosting start.
They haven't been handed an easy opening day fixture though, as today's visitors to East Anglia are Crystal Palace. The Eagles enjoyed a superb end to the season last time around following Alan Pardew's arrival in January and they will be determined to build upon that success.
Right, I think it's about time we see which players have made the starting lineup for their clubs this afternoon, as the team news is now in!
NORWICH XI: Ruddy; Whittaker, Martin, Bassong, Brady; Howson, Dorrans, Tettey, Johnson; Hoolahan; Grabban
CRYSTAL PALACE XI: McCarthy; Ward, Dann, Delaney; Souare; McArthur, Cabaye; Zaha, Mutch, Puncheon; Murray
NORWICH SUBS: Rudd, Wisdom, Jerome, Hooper, Redmond, R Bennett, O'Neil
CRYSTAL PALACE SUBS: Hennessey, Kelly, Jedinak, Bolasie, Gayle, Wickham, Bamford
So, that's how the teams will be lining up this afternoon. Let's start with Norwich, who have named summer signings Robbie Brady and Graham Dorrans in their starting lineup. They have also selected Lewis Grabban to lead their attack, following the striker's 12 goals in the Championship last season.
Meanwhile, Palace have handed a debut to Yohan Cabaye following his arrival from Paris Saint-Germain. Fellow debutant Alex McCarthy starts in goal with Jordan Speroni ruled out and Yannick Bolasie is only fit enough to make the bench.
Pardew has also kept faith with Glen Murray, who struck seven times in the Premier League last season. He has been chosen ahead of recent signings Connor Wickham and Patrick Bamford, with Wilfried Zaha and Jason Puncheon supporting him in the attack.
It seems a long time ago now, but it was only back in May that Norwich secured an immediate return to the top flight. They had narrowly missed out on automatic promotion from the Championship, but they saw off local rivals Ipswich Town in the last four of the playoffs, before beating Middlesbrough in the final at Wembley.
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The Canaries will now be looking to cement their place in the top flight and avoid the relegation battle that engulfed them two seasons ago. They had struggled all season and a run of seven games without a win at the end of the campaign decided their fate.
In fact, their last win in the top flight came at home to Sunderland in March 2014, and they will be looking to change that as soon as possible. It's worth remembering that they finished in 12th and 11th place in the Premier League the previous two seasons before their relegation, so they have recent experience of successfully avoiding the drop.
Their results have been slightly mixed in pre-season, with five wins and three defeats, but Alex Neil will know that the real work starts today. They also have some very interesting fixtures coming up in the next month, with Sunderland, Stoke City and Southampton to come in August, before a clash against fellow new boys Bournemouth after the international break in September.
There haven't been too many arrivals at Carrow Road this summer, but Robbie Brady and Graham Dorrans have been signed for a combined transfer fee of £10m. Goalkeeper Jake Kean has joined from Blackburn Rovers and will likely deputise for John Ruddy, but Youssouf Mulumbu will have to wait for his debut, after breaking a metatarsal bone in his foot last weekend.
Hoping to spoil the party this afternoon will be Crystal Palace, who turned out to be one of the surprises packages last season. They had made a poor start to the campaign and looked to be in real trouble, before Alan Pardew was hired as manager in January to replace Neil Warnock.
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The former Newcastle United boss then guided his team to 10 wins in their remaining 18 league games to secure a first top-half finish in the top flight of English football for the first time in over 20 years. It wasn't just the results, as performances in victories against Manchester City and Liverpool won praise from pundits across the country.
Due to their achievements last season, the pressure will surely be on Pardew and his players to repeat their success, and they have made some important additions to their squad over the summer. The most notable of their recent arrivals has been Yohan Cabaye from Paris Sant-Germain, who Pardew worked with at Newcastle. Signing a player of his calibre has been a real show of intent from the club and already looks to be one of the year's best pieces of business.
Earlier this week Connor Wickham joined from Sunderland for a reported fee of £9m, while fellow striker Patrick Bamford has been signed on loan from Chelsea. Perhaps just as important as bringing in new additions, the club have managed to hold onto the likes of Yannick Bolasie, with none of their key players from last season departing.
These teams have met a number of times over the years, with their last clash in January 2014 ending in a draw. Bradley Johnson had given Norwich the lead, but a penalty just five minutes later from Jason Puncheon ensured that the points were shared at Selhurst Park.
Their previous meeting earlier that season had finished with Norwich claiming a 1-0 victory thanks to a goal from Gary Hooper. Overall it's Palace who have the slightly better record between the clubs, with 46 wins in total, compared to 44 victories for the Canaries.
PREDICTION: Opening day fixtures are always tough to predict, but there is bound to be a wonderful atmosphere at Carrow Road which could give Norwich the edge. The Canaries will be buoyed by their strong end to the last campaign and will be hoping to hit the ground running. Palace also enjoyed a good run in the final months of last season and were particularly successful on the road, so I'm going to sit on the fence and go for a 1-1 draw by the end of the afternoon.
KICKOFF! We are underway at Carrow Road!
SHOT! As expected, the home fans are in full voice at Carrow road and their team manage the first effort of the match. It's Dorrans who goes for goal, after being allowed time and space outside the box, but his powerful strike is always rising and watched over safely by McCarthy.
Norwich are on the attack agains and Hoolahan is slipped in down the right, before delivering a low ball to the front post that is met by Howson. The midfielder arrives and can only direct the ball wide from close range, but his effort wouldn't have counted anyway, as the linesman had his flag raised for an offside.
I was about to say that things had settled down a bit, but it has just kicked off between the teams after Murray goes in with a tough challenge on Dorrans. His foot was slightly high, but after a stern talking to from the referee, he is spared a yellow card.
CHANCE! Norwich have been on top in the opening minutes of this game and they really should be ahead here. A fine passage of play ends with Dorrans whipping a great low ball across that box that Grabban stretches to meet, but he is only able to stab the ball against the post. He was only a few yards out and he will be hoping that his team are not made to rue that miss.
It hasn't been the greatest start for Palace, but they show their threat when Zaha tricks his way down the right. The winger then lifts a teasing ball into the middle, but it is slightly overhit and cleared before Murray can get there.
Norwich are still well on top on at the moment and they have seen nearly 80% of the possession so far. Neil will surely be pleased at how his team are playing, but he will know that sooner or later they are going to have to take one of their chances.
Palace have just not got started yet and they are allowing Norwich to come onto them. The Eagles seem happy to just sit back behind the ball while their opponents retain possession. If things continue this way until the break, then you can be sure that Pardew will have some strong words for his players at half time.
YELLOW CARD! It has taken a while for the referee to show a card, but he goes to his notebook for first time to book Tettey for a late challenge on Souare.
In the past few minutes Norwich have been hit on the counter by Palace after successive free kicks from the hosts are cleared. There is plenty of pace up front for Palace, with Zaha looking especially lively, so they must be wary of committing so many men forward for set plays.
SHOT! The tide just seems to be turning in the favour of Palace, who are starting to see a bit more of the ball. They also threaten with Puncheon crashing in a fierce drive from the edge of the box, but Tettey gets back to make a block and the hosts manage to clear.
CHANCE! I said that Palace had improved and they come close to taking the lead here. Souare whips in a cross from the left that Ward inadvertently flicks into the path of Murray. The striker has little time to react, but he manages to poke an effort goalwards that is well blocked by the big frame of Ruddy.
Norwich really have got away with one here. Murray is slid through on goal by Zaha and is brought down inside the box by Martin. It looked as if the referee was all set to blow for a penalty, but instead he gives an offside against Murray, as the home fans breath a collective sigh of relief.
If we are going to see a goal before half time, then Zaha could be the man to create it. The winger has been his side's best player and he shows his threat once again with a powerful run down the left, before delivering a cross into the box that is scrambled clear by the hosts.
GOAL! Norwich City 0-1 Crystal Palace (Wilfried Zaha)
I just spoke about how well Zaha was playing and the Palace winger has given his side the lead with just minutes to go until the break. This time Puncheon was the provider, as he charged down the right before floating a delightful ball to the back post that was turned in expertly by Zaha. They may not have been at their best this afternoon, but the visitors now have a crucial advantage.
SHOT! Palace have taken control of this match and they almost score their second goal in quick succession. Mutch takes down a long ball from Cabaye on the edge of the box and shifts it onto his right foot, before firing in a drive that is beaten away by Ruddy.
SHOT! Norwich are desperate to pull a goal back before half time and after Tettey drags an effort wide from the edge of the box, Brady lashes a shot from range well over the bar.
There are going to be a couple of minutes of stoppage time added on.
HALF-TIME: Norwich City 0-1 Crystal Palace
The referee blows for the end of the first half and Crystal Palace are leading Norwich at Carrow Road. The Canaries had some great chances to go ahead in the early stages, but they were made to pay by Wilfried Zaha's clinical finish just minutes before the break.
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Here's how the statistics are looking after that first half. Norwich have dominated possession and they have seen 64% of the ball, although Palace were largely in control from the half-hour mark. The hosts have also managed eight attempts on goal, but just one of those has found the target. Palace have hit the target with three of their six efforts and Ruddy has had to make some important saves.
It certainly took Palace quite some time to get into the match, but they were on top by the end of the half. Zaha has caused plenty of problems for Norwich down the left, while fellow winger Puncheon has also been a threat down the right and it was his inch-perfect cross that led to the opening goal.
Let's take a quick look at the results from this afternoon's other Premier League matches. Claudio Ranieri's reign as Leicester City manager is off to a good start, as his team are leading 3-0 against Sunderland. Meanwhile, Watford have a shock 1-0 lead against Everton, while it is goalless between Bournemouth and Aston Villa. Manchester United kicked off the new season by beating Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 earlier today.
Palace take the kick off and get the second half started!
Norwich just can't handle Zaha and the winger gets in once again down the left. He manages to trick his way past Brady and gets to the byline, before standing up a cross into the middle that is eventually headed to safety by the Norwich defence.
GOAL! Norwich City 0-2 Crystal Palace (Damien Delaney)
Palace ended the first half strongly and they have made a great start to the second by doubling their lead. It comes from a corner, as the ball is floated to Souare, who then heads it towards Delaney at the back post. The former Ipswich defender then has the simple task of slotting the ball in from close range to leave Norwich with a mountain to climb.
CHANCE! Big chance for the Canaries to pull a goal back within minutes of conceding as Grabban's effort from inside the box is blocked, before Johnson sees his header from the rebound saved by McCarthy.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Norwich respond to falling two goals behind by bringing on Jerome and Redmond for Tettey and Grabban.
The confidence is flowing through Palace at the moment and they have taken a firm hold of this match. You would expect them to use their Premier League experience and see out the rest of the game, with Norwich seemingly there for the taking.
It has just gone a little bit flat at Carrow Road, with the home fans silenced by those Palace goals either side of half time. They really need something from their team to raise the spirits and give some hope of a late fightback.
It just isn't going for Norwich at the moment, but not for want of trying. Redmond has looked lively since his arrival and following a decent run is cross is cleared to Howson on the edge of the box. However, the midfielder fluffs his lines and ends up dragging a poor strike wide of the target.
The pace has gone out of the match and Norwich are looking tired. They were getting the ball forward quickly in the opening minutes of the half, but their efforts seem to have taken their toll. In contrast, Palace are still looking sharp and in charge of the contest.
GOAL! Norwich City 1-2 Crystal Palace (Nathan Redmond)
Out of absolutely nowhere the Canaries are back in the match! Redmond picks up the ball in the centre of the midfield and is allowed time and space to get within shooting range. He then drills in a speculative low effort that doesn't look too dangerous, but it catches out McCarthy and ends up nestled in the bottom corner.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Palace are going to make a double change, with Bolasie and Jedinak coming on for Zaha and Mutch.
GOAL DISALLOWED! What a huge decision this is by the referee, as Norwich have a goal chalked off. Jerome thought that he had equalised, after brilliantly volleying the ball into the net from close range, but it was ruled out for a high foot on Ward. That was an incredibly harsh call by the referee and there weren't many Palace players contesting the decision.
CHANCE! The momentum is firmly with Norwich and they come close again to drawing level. This time Brady's cross is turned goalwards by Whittaker, but his attempt is cleared off the line by Dann.
SUBSTITUTION: Norwich have made their third and final change, with Hooper coming on to replace Dorrans.
SUBSTITUTION: It's another change, as Wickham comes on to make his Palace debut in place of Murray.
The sting just seems to have been taken out of Norwich's game over the past few minutes, with Palace re-establishing their control. The visitors also look more threatening going forward, with Cabaye seeing his firm strike from outside the box well held by Ruddy.
SHOT! Brady has had a few attempts on goal this afternoon, but he has not quite found his shooting boots. He has another chance when Jerome lays the ball off for him just outside the box, but his curling attempt goes high and wide of the target.
SHOT! Bolasie almost wraps up the three points for Palace when he latches onto a flick and crashes in a drive from 20 yards out that takes a slight deflection and is beaten to safety by Ruddy.
There are going to be at least four minutes of stoppage time added on.
PENALTY APPEAL! The big decisions just haven't gone Norwich's way this afternoon. They had a goal ruled out earlier and they feel that they should be given a penalty when Wickham barges into the back of Bassong inside the box. It looked like a blatant shove from the Palace striker, but the referee instead waved play on, much to the disgust of the Norwich players and their fans.
GOAL! Norwich City 1-3 Crystal Palace (Yohan Cabaye)
It's surely all over now, as Cabaye scores Palace's third goal of the afternoon. He was slid through brilliantly by McArthur, before driving a low strike past the helpless Ruddy. The Frenchman hasn't been at his best, but he is off the mark on his debut!
FULL-TIME: Norwich City 1-3 Crystal Palace
It's all over at Carrow Road and Crystal Palace have held on to earn a 3-1 victory over Norwich City. The Canaries will feel aggrieved by some of the decisions by the referee this afternoon, but they were punished by their opponents on their return to the Premier League.
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Out coverage may be over here, but we've got more live action for you from Stamford Bridge, as Chelsea start the defence of their title with a clash against Swansea City. There's also plenty of news and reaction to all of the day's football and analysis to come from each game. Until next time, goodbye!
Written by
Alex Meyers
Alex Meyers
