Sheffield Wednesday - 1 (Ekoku 43.)
Crystal Palace - 3 (Morrison 31. Freedman 35. Smith 37.)

Earlier this season Palace were victorious over the Owls 4-1, but todays' home side got their revenge in the Cup, going through on penalties 3-1 following a 2-2 draw. Palace needed to put their defeat at the hands of Coventry behind them, and get their promotion aspirations back on track. Of course, it would also be nice to complete another "double" for the season.

The first action in the match came when Clinton Morrison nearly got free on the edge of the area, but his shot was pushed behind by a well-organised defence. A corner at the other end was wasted just as well as was ours, and then a header, by Shefki Kuqi came to naught.

Dougie Freedman got free of the defence, but play was pulled back for an earlier infringement, and then Wednesday got free, but both sides were finding the playing conditions a little difficult. After the weather of late this is hardly surprising, and it will be a matter of who takes their chances.

Good play between Clinton and Dougie got Aki Riihilahti free, but he merely played the ball straight over the touchline. Curtis Fleming lost possession to Trond Egil Soldvedt and quick as you like the ball was at our end of the field and Efan Ekoku was firing his shot just wide of the post. Jamie Smith played a ball through to Dougie, but he was just a little offside and the move broke down.

Kuqi then had a good opportunity to open the scoring, but he was unable to control the ball and it went wide of the mark. The assistant referee then flagged Dougie for offside, even though the ball went to Clinton, but I guess things go that way sometimes. A corner to Wednesday went straight out, without touching a soul in the goalmouth area, then a corner at the other end, taken by Simon Rodger, was wasted.

Half an hour had gone, and it was starting to look as if the pitch would win the first half of football, but suddenly Palace moved up a gear, and the scene changed very rapidly. Dougie once again played a long ball into the area, but this time Clinton timed his run well, and found himself with space to spare, and only the keeper to beat. Controlling the ball he simply drew Paul Heald out of his goal, and as he came he simply placed the ball into the back of the net. Believe it or not, that was Clinton's first goal away from Selhurst Park this season!

Within minutes Clinton turned provider for Dougie, as he drilled the ball across the face of goal. Two defenders completely missed the ball, and Dougie was on hand to simply tap the easiest of chances home. 2-0, and the pace was hotting up. As if that was not enough Dougie then picked up a loose ball, and beating two defenders he crossed the ball to Jamie who made no mistake firing his shot straight past the keeper and into the corner of the net.

In the space of six minutes we had put three goals past the home side, and the Palace faithful were starting to wonder just how many we could score in the 90 minutes. Of course, Palace matches are never that easy.

Kuqi made a run at the Palace line, but Alex Kolinko was alert enough to snuff out the danger at the feet of the marksman. It was only minutes later though that Leigh Bromby took a trademark long throw, which was headed back out by Palace debutant Shaun Murphy. The ball fell straight back to Bromby, and his return went straight to Ekoku whose header left Alex no chance whatsoever.

Dougie got free once again, but his pass was just out of the reach of Clinton. A free kick at the other end, dealt with by Aki, rounded out the first half.

At the start of the second half Trevor Francis made two substitutions, bringing on Jovan Kirovski and Gregg Berhalter for Julian Gray and Jamie. Of course Jamie came in to this match on the back of an injury cloud, and one can only assume that bringing off Julian was another of the manager's inspired substitutions.

Dougie and Clinton combined well once again, but the ball was stolen from the feet of Clinton just as it looked as if he might make the home defence pay. A corner to the Eagles saw Clinton sky the ball over the top, but in fairness he was falling backwards at the time he attempted the strike. A strike by the visitors was well held by Alex in goal, and he immediately threw the ball out to Dougie. A good pass found Jovan who simply squared the ball across to an unmarked Clinton who tapped the ball into the back of the net. To our dismay the official once again ruled that Clinton was offside, and had he but known it is almost certain Jovan could have scored the goal himself.

Alex did well to rob Kuqi of the ball and then he was able to smother a free kick that the visitors took quickly. Dean Austin managed to clear potential danger for the Eagles, and Wednesday made their second substitution, bringing on Matthew Hamshaw for Alan Quinn. Clinton had a shot blocked by the keeper, and then a cross from Danny found Jovan, who was unable to control the ball and the chance went begging.

Ekoku was then the player found guilty of being offside, but despite the pressure being applied by the Owls Palace were holding firm, and it appeared as if the half time lead would be enough to take all three points home. A final substitution for Wednesday saw Pablo Bonvin on for Gerald Sibon, but it appeared to make little difference to either side's performance on the pitch. Gregg played Clinton in, but the keeper beat him to the ball before Palace wasted a good chance from a corner.

Towards the end Palace were merely content to knock the ball around, as well as they could on such a poor pitch, and the minutes gradually ran down to the end of the match. A final chance fell to Ekoku, but Alex was well equal to the task, but the resulting corner saw Alex having to desperately clear off the line at the last moment. It appeared the Palace defence may have gone to sleep there at the death, but the moment was saved by astute keeping, and we were happy to hear the final whistle. The result took us up to 5th place in the League, no matter how temporarily, and we now have the opportunity to consolidate our position when we take on Wolves at Selhurst Park on Thursday evening.

Colin Pryce

Sheffield Wednesday: Paul Heald, Marlon Broomes, Steven Haslam, Ashley Westwood (Derek Geary 45), Leigh Bromby, Paul McLaren, Trond Egil Soldvedt, Alan Quinn (Matthew Hamshaw 59), Shefki Kuqi, Efan Ekoku, Gerald Sibon (Pablo Facundo Bonvin 71).

Substitutes not used: Sean Roberts, Danny Maddix.

Crystal Palace: Alex Kolinko, Jamie Smith (Jovan Kirovski 45), Shaun Murphy, Curtis Fleming, Danny Granville, Simon Rodger, Aki Riihilahti, Julian Gray (Gregg Berhalter 45), Dougie Freedman, Clinton Morrison.

Substitutes not used: Matt Clarke, Tommy Black, Steve Kabba.

Attendance: 20,099

Referee: Mr P Danson (Leicester)