Crystal Palace - 3 (Forssell 47. Morrison 56. 78.)
Wimbledon - 1 (Roberts 27.)

Palace went into this game boasting a record of being unbeaten in the last eight games in all competitions. Our tenants, Wimbledon, had an enviable away record, but their home form so far this season has been pretty ordinary to say the least. Their major problem was that though this was an "away" fixture it was played on their home ground, and apart from changing dressing rooms everything else was the same. It certainly saves a lot in travelling time though!

The Eagles started the match the livelier of the two teams with first Clinton Morrison going close then Hayden Mullins heading over the top of the bar. As the game wore on though the Dons started to show why they were Premiership material this time last year. Fan Zhiyi failed to clear a cross from Marcus Gayle, but Andy Roberts fortunately put his shot wide. Gayle then missed two chances of his own, the second being caused by a fine sliding tackle from Neil Ruddock. Neal Ardley then fired in a good cross but Gayle shot way wide when it looked far easier to put the ball in the back of the net.

It was starting to appear that Palace needed to do something drastic before this match got away from them, but they were not quick enough to stop the opening goal. Ardley once again made a good run down the right hand side of the pitch before making a cross into the area that gave Roberts plenty of time to place his shot well wide of Alex Kolinko in goal. Unfortunately this time the ball did not go wide of the post, and we found ourselves, almost deservedly, 1-0 down.

Palace were not about to lie down though, but Kelvin Davis seemed in invincible form pulling off double saves against Clinton not once but twice in short succession. With those disappointments behind us the match wound down to the break, and we found ourselves still behind to the goal from our ex-striker. I guess there is not a lot difference in that situation, but we have managed to keep a few of our ex-strikers off the scoresheet lately.

After the break Palace immediately went into top gear, and as is often the case the leading team seemed to fall into a hole. Play had only been underway for two minutes when Tommy Black made a good move into the area, his pass finding Mullins, who immediately flicked the ball on to Mikael Forssell. Mikael could hardly miss, having the simple task of bundling the ball over the line from only a yard out. The scores were level, and Palace were on the ascendancy.

It took less than ten minutes for Palace to finally take the lead for the first time in the match. Jamie Pollock found Jamie Smith whose shot at goal was well parried by the keeper, but Clinton was on hand to simply head the ball into the back of an empty net.

The match then seemed to meander on, but all Palace supporters knew there was more to come. It came with 12 minutes left on the clock, when Smith crossed the ball once again to Clinton, and a great shot across the angle of the goal found Davis forlornly diving across his goal as the ball smashed into the back of the net. At 3-1 up Palace lessened the pressure on the "visiting" side, and the match simply cruised on to a welcome Palace victory.

Now nine games without defeat Palace will meet more determined opposition when Watford come visiting on Saturday. They will have a lot to prove, having lost their last four games, and Palace will be keen to maintain their current undefeated record. It should be a match well worth watching!

Colin Pryce

Crystal Palace: Alex Kolinko, Jamie Smith (Steve Thomson 83), Dean Austin, Neil Ruddock, Andrew Frampton (Craig Harrison 88), Tommy Black, Fan Zhiyi, Hayden Mullins, Jamie Pollock, Clinton Morrison, Mikael Forssell.

Substitutes not used: Dougie Freedman, Wayne Carlisle, Stephen Kabba.

Wimbledon: Kelvin Davis, Darren Holloway, Rob Gier, Mark Williams, Neal Ardley, Peter Hawkins, Andy Roberts, Trond Andersen (Jason Euell 67), Damien Francis, John Hartson (Par Karlsson 77), Marcus Gayle (Patrick Agyemang 77).

Substitutes not used: Paul Heald, Chris Willmott.

Attendance: 16,699

Referee: Mr D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).