Crystal Palace - 1 (Johnson 88.)
Walsall - 0

Having won 5 out of the last 6 matches (the other being a draw against Wigan), Palace needed a win in this match to push their claim for a playoff spot. The reality check is that, despite the win, the team can still finish anywhere between 3rd and 9th in the League, but things certainly look more promising at the moment.

Palace kicked off in this match, and the first action saw a free kick to the Eagles, which Danny Butterfield played through to Tony Popovic, his attempt on goal going just over the top of the bar. The next free kick saw Danny B play the ball in again, but the defence cleared the danger on this occasion. Wayne Routledge forced the first corner of the match, but Walsall cleared the ball once more before Wayne played the ball in and Julian Gray sent a shot in just wide of the post.

Another corner to Palace, which was sent in by Shaun Derry was cleared by the Walsall defence, and it was becoming obvious that our visitors were playing with Lee Bradbury as a sole striker, and they were keeping nearly everyone behind the ball in an effort to stop us scoring. A point would prove handy for them, and there was always the chance that they might just nick a goal at the death to take all three points home with them.

Andy Johnson made a run on goal but Paul Ritchie brought him down, and though it looked as if he might have been the last line of defence the referee, Mr Pugh, kept his red card in his pocket, and merely brandished a yellow one, the free kick being wasted by the Palace contingent. Bradbury was caught offside, and Mikele Leigertwood played a long ball through to Neil Shipperley, the keeper, James Walker, just beating him to the ball.

Julian played a good ball through to Danny Granville, but a poor cross saw the move break down, and suddenly the ball was at the other end, Mark Wright trying a shot that was deflected behind for Walsall's first corner. Simon Osborn took that, Julian cleared the ball and Darren Wrack fired the return over the top.

Zigor Aranalde brought down Wayne, but Shaun fired the free kick straight at the wall, and one was left to wonder just why he took the kick when Danny B was standing watching proceedings. We all know what a great shot he has, and surely he should be taking such set pieces?

Wayne got in a cross that eluded both attackers and defence alike, the ball running out for a relieving goal kick to our visitors, before Aki Riihilahti was fouled by Wrack, and this time Danny B did take the kick. The ball hit the top of the defensive wall this time, Tony headed the ball back into the area, and Neil headed the ball goalwards, only to see it tipped over the top of the bar. The resulting corner came in, Neil shot from close range, and the keeper just managed to get a fingertip to it to deflect it for yet another corner. This time Neil's header went just wide, and the chance had gone begging.

Julian fired in a good cross, but the keeper claimed the ball, and then AJ got clear but was brought down in the area. Surely that should have been a penalty, but though the referee looked at the incident he took no action, and the game went on. Neil got a good touch to the next ball that was played into the area, AJ shot at goal, but once again the keeper saved the effort. He was certainly having a good game for Walsall.

As the half rapidly came to a close Bradbury finally managed to get free, but Danny G was on hand to mop up the danger, and then Wrack almost forced the ball home before the whistle sounded, and the teams left the field still locked up at 0-0. One can only assume that Iain Dowie would have been pleased with the work effort, but would have been asking for more accuracy in front of goal. He may have asked, but it took a long time coming!

Walsall got the second half underway, and as Wayne made one of his trademark runs down the wing Aranalde was on hand to simply shepherd the ball out of play for a goal kick. Ritchie was caught offside, whilst at the other end it was the turn of Neil to go down in the area, but once again the referee waved play on; surely that was two gilt-edged penalty appeals turned down now?

Danny B played a good cross into the area, but the keeper claimed the ball as he snatched it off the top of Neil's head, and shortly after AJ was caught marginally offside. Osborn took the free kick, but Julian was back to clear the danger, and then Osborn brought Wayne down, earning the second yellow card for the visiting team. Danny G sent in a cross that was headed goalwards by Aki, but Walker was equal to the task once again, and it was starting to look as if we might need a miracle to break down the dogged defence of the Walsall side.

Wayne forced another corner, but once again Shaun played the ball in and Wrack cleared the danger before Mikele got a great ball through to AJ, Ian Roper just managing to cut out the chance at the last possible moment before AJ could strike. Danny B sent in a cross that the keeper nearly fumbled into his own net, but he recovered in time to avert any disaster, conceding a corner that was wasted yet again.

Palace decided that it was time for a change, and Shaun made way for Dougie Freedman, to give us a far more attacking look to the line-up. Wright tried a shot that went just over the top of the bar, reminding us that we could easily lose this game, but AJ tried at the other end, his shot being deflected behind for another corner to the home side. Surely one of these should pay off eventually? Not this one though, Wayne fired it in, and the defence easily cleared the ball.

Another free kick to Palace saw Dougie head the ball over the top of the bar, and Walsall decided on a double change, Bradbury and Wrack leaving the field of play to be replaced by Jorge Leitao and Kris Taylor. Wright fouled Danny G and was booked for his trouble, making it three yellow cards to none in favour of the visitors, and Neil tried hard to get on the end of a cross into the centre only to be denied by Roper. A series of corners to Palace followed, and during this time we made a second change, with Ben Watson replacing Aki, but none of the set pieces paid off.

We then made our final change, Tommy Black coming on for Danny B, and this proved to be the telling move of the game, as with his first touch on the ball he was brought down in the area, and finally the referee decided that this was a penalty. It was, in truth, probably our least deserved appeal, but AJ stepped up to take the spot kick, and Walker was booked for arguing with the referee. Surely one of these days players will learn you never win back-chatting the referee.

Unfortunately Walker guessed the right way to dive, and he beat AJ's penalty kick, but our striker was alert enough to follow up his attempt, and he buried the ball in the back of the net, as the keeper lay prone on the ground. Finally we had broken the deadlock, and there was but a few minutes left on the clock.

Walsall made a final change, Darren Bazeley giving way to Matt Fryatt, and despite three minutes of added on time no further attempts were made on goal at either end. Palace had won a hard-fought match, the three points were in the bag, we ascended to 5th on the table, and a solitary point away to Coventry next week will be sufficient to ensure we cement a playoff spot. Don't forget, next weekend's fixtures all kick off at 1pm on Sunday, and Palace have everything to play for.

Colin Pryce

Crystal Palace: Nico Vaesen, Danny Granville, Danny Butterfield (Tommy Black 83), Tony Popovic, Mikele Leigertwood, Wayne Routledge, Aki Riihilahti (Ben Watson 79), Shaun Derry (Dougie Freedman 66), Julian Gray, Andrew Johnson, Neil Shipperley.

Substitutes not used: Cedric Berthelin, Gary Borrowdale.

Walsall: James Walker, Darren Bazeley (Matt Fryatt 90), Paul Ritchie, Ian Roper, Zigor Aranalde, Mark Wright, Simon Osborn, Keith Andrews, Darren Wrack (Kris Taylor 72), Lee Bradbury (Jorge Leitao 72), Neil Emblen.

Substitutes not used: Paul Merson, Aaron Kerr.

Attendance: 21,518

Referee: Mr D Pugh