Sunderland - 0
Crystal Palace - 0

Before this match started the bookies were quoting 1/4 on for a Sunderland win and 14/1 against for a Palace win. The draw was at the lucrative odds of 4/1 against. To say that Sunderland were therefore the raging favourites would be an understatement. With four first team picks absent due to suspension, including captain Neil Ruddock and captain-elect Fan Zhiyi, it was Dean Austin that wore the prized armband. Our hosts remain unbeaten at home, but following this result we get to meet them at home once again, when perhaps the bookies may not be quite so generous.

The first half got underway in front of the biggest crowd that Palace have played in front of so far this season, but needless to say most of them were on the opposition's side. The early part of the play went their way with Alex Kolinko having to make good ground to deny England man Kevin Phillips when he got clear of the defence and was running on to a long ball from Stefan Schwarz. Don Hutchinson then put in a good cross, but Andrew Frampton cut out the threat. Shortly after Clinton Morrison had our first attempt at goal, his header going well wide of the mark.

Sunderland really should have done better with the opportunity presented to them just before the quarter of an hour mark when Hutchinson sent in a cross, leaving Alex stranded. Daniele Dichio blasted the ball wide of the goal when it stood there invitingly wide-open. Phillips then shot wide, but his next run was well timed, the threat just being cut off by Craig Harrison. Gavin McCann then hit his shot just inches wide of the post, and it was starting to look as if Palace were living on borrowed time.

Dougie Freedman finally managed to get behind the defence, but his shot was a shocker. Another raid by the home side saw Alex save well when the attacking forwards surrounded him, but then we swept the ball down to the other end of the park. Wayne Carlisle set up Andrejs Rubins, but his shot hit Emerson Thome and bounced well clear. Almost immediately Phillips was back at our end of the ground, and this time with just Alex to beat he missed the target completely. Dean Austin then denied McCann from getting in a shot before our best chance of the half came shortly before the break. Stanislav Varga cleared the ball but it fell nicely for Steve Thomson to volley it straight back towards the goal. With Thomas Sorensen well beaten the ball dipped but sailed marginally over the bar.

The break came, and though Alan Smith would have been generally pleased that we were still on level terms he would have realised that there was still a lot to do if we were going to have any chance of taking out the match. As things transpired that job was going to get a lot harder before the first hour of play was over!

Following the break the opposition came out with all guns blazing, and it was only the fine display of Alex in goal that denied them taking the lead, and led to his being named as the Palace man of the match. Shots from Alex Rae, Hutchinson, McCann and Schwarz were all cleared before McCann tackled Hayden Mullins and Hayden reacted badly to the situation. For their efforts the referee awarded a yellow card to McCann but gave Hayden a red card, and Palace was left to defend the last 33 minutes of the game with only 10 men. As is often the case, and to quote the words of Peter Reid, the Sunderland manager, Palace then started to play better, and Sunderland started to play worse.

Most of the chances though were still heading in the wrong direction for stalwart Palace supporters though Thomson saw his effort well taken by Sorensen before Dougie made a mess of a clear shot at goal, sending his effort wide.

A goalmouth scramble saw the ball somehow pop out and go just wide of the post at our end before Dichio headed the ball wide. With just 13 minutes left on the clock it was starting to appear as if we might just hang on, so Reid sent on Niall Quinn in an attempt to break the deadlock. He though could not find a way through the resolute Palace defence, and it was in fact our substitute, Mikael Forssell, that came closest to scoring. A dropped ball by their keeper saw Mikael get free, but as he was about to shoot the keeper pulled him back by the ankle. Despite protests by the Palace players the referee waved play-on, and after the match Reid admitted that he also thought a penalty should have been awarded. It would probably not matter much though; we seem to miss most penalties!

With only a couple of minutes left to play the ref finally evened up the contest by sending Varga off, for pulling Dougie down when he was clear on goal, though it was far too late to affect the outcome of the match. We now face the prospect of a lucrative home tie against Premiership opposition once again, but before we get too carried away with that prospect we still have to account for Liverpool in the first leg of the Worthington Cup semi-final on Wednesday night.

One thing is for sure, no matter where we are in the world we will all be watching, and most likely praying. Good luck Palace!

Colin Pryce

Sunderland: Thomas Sorensen, Chris Makin, Darren Williams (Kevin Kilbane 66), Stanislav Varga, Emerson Thome, Stefan Schwarz, Don Hutchinson, Alex Rae, Gavin McCann, Kevin Phillips, Daniele Dichio (Niall Quinn 76).

Substitutes not used: Jurgen Macho, Jody Craddock, Paul Thirlwell.

Crystal Palace: Alex Kolinko, Dean Austin, Craig Harrison, Andrew Frampton, Simon Rodger, Wayne Carlisle, Andrejs Rubins, Steve Thomson, Hayden Mullins, Dougie Freedman, Clinton Morrison (Mikael Forssell 72).

Substitutes not used: Julian Gray, Matthew Gregg, Sean Hankin, Steve Kabba.

Attendance: 30,908

Referee: Mr M Riley (Leeds).