Crystal Palace - 2 (Freedman 33. Johnson 44.)
Reading - 2 (Owusu 14. 56.)

Crystal Palace entertained Reading, and as is usually the case Steve Coppell made his way down to the dugout to a tremendous reception from the Palace fans. To say he is still popular in SE25 would be an understatement, but we all hoped he had simply arrived to gift us another three points!

Michael Hughes was named as skipper as Neil Shipperley was suspended for the game and Palace got the first half action underway, kicking towards the Whitehorse Lane end. A free kick conceded by Shaun Goater for a tackle on Danny Granville was taken by Tony Popovic, but shortly after Goater sent in a shot that Cedric Berthelin needed a couple of attempts to hang on to. Wayne Routledge centered the ball to Michael, but the defence cleared the chance, conceding a corner, and Shaun Derry fired the ball in only to see Wayne make a mess of the chance in front of goal.

Julian Gray won another corner, which was wasted once more, and shortly after Danny Butterfield got the ball through to Andy Johnson, his pass just eluding Dougie Freedman. AJ managed to get clear of the defence before he went down in the challenge, but the referee was having nothing of it, and play continued on. Julian got the ball back into the centre, but Marcus Hahnemann was equal to the task, and suddenly the ball floated into our area, from James Harper's cross, Goater headed it on, and Lloyd Owusu was on hand to head it straight into the back of the net. 1-0 down, despite all the Palace pressure.

Shaun got the ball through to AJ, but his shot was blocked by the defence, though it did go for a corner that Danny G fired into the area and John Salako came clear with the ball. AJ got the ball back in, but his pass was just too strong for Dougie, whilst at the other end Salako put a shot onto the top of the net, when he really should have scored.

Owusu, Goater and Salako then combined in a neat move that saw Salako again hit the ball over the top of the bar. Steven Sidwell sent an effort wide of the posts before Wayne got a cross in, but there was no Palace player in sight, and the chance went begging.

Dougie was caught offside, and then suddenly AJ was pushed down, but the referee played the advantage as Dougie rushed on to the ball, beat the last defender, and simply steered the ball home into the bottom corner of the net. Back on level terms, and there was still about 12 minutes before the break.

AJ ran at the defence, but his shot went just over the top of the bar, and immediately after Salako got free, his shot being blocked by Mark Hudson. Danny G was fouled by Scott Murray on the edge of the area, and though the free kick was taken quickly, by Shaun, it was ordered to be taken again. This time Michael took the kick, the ball fell to Danny B, and his rocket-like shot was brought down by the hand of Adrian Williams, the referee simply waving play on.

Michael had a chance, his shot going well wide of the target, and Dougie was subsequently caught offside. A foul on Sidwell by Michael was advanced 10 yards as a result of Michael kicking the ball away, and he simply got booked for his trouble. Why do players do that? Surely they know by now the inevitable outcome? The free kick was taken by Nicholas Shorey, and the ball found Ivar Ingimarsson who sent his shot wide of the mark under pressure from Danny B. The keeper had to punch the ball clear at the other end as Wayne ran forward to a Danny G cross, then Tony was on hand to clear the danger of an Andy Hughes forward movement.

Shaun managed to get the ball to Danny G who fired in an inch perfect cross to AJ that saw the Palace man bring the ball down on his chest, control it, and fire the ball into the bottom of the net, leaving the keeper little chance. Finally we were in front, and half time was almost upon us. Julian had time to run at the defence and try a shot that was well blocked by Williams, and the half time whistle sounded.

Iain Dowie would have been pleased with the rate of effort, and would have presumably been asking for more of the same for the second period of play.

Reading got the second half into motion, and the first action saw Wayne shoot just wide from well out of the area before Julian tried his luck but was unable to control the ball in the area, and a simple goal kick followed. AJ saw his cross beaten out by the defence as Dougie was on hand to put the game beyond doubt, and then Julian put a cross into the area, but once again the Palace players were missing from the scene. Palace won a corner that was taken well by the keeper.

Murray then made a good run, and his pass to the unmarked Owusu saw the Reading man play a simple ball into the back of the net to level the scores up at 2-2. Poor defending, and marking by Palace led to that goal. Sidwell then shot wide when he really should have done better, and a corner to Palace nearly saw Shorey head the ball into his own net, the ball going marginally wide for a corner. That, of course, was wasted as a free kick was ordered from the area against Palace for a foul by Mark.

Harper tried a shot from distance that Cedric did well to get hold of before Shaun found Dougie in the penalty area, his shot skewing off the side of the boot, and away to safety, at least from the Reading point of view. Tony blocked a shot from Goater that appeared destined for the back of the net, and shortly after Dougie was caught offside once more. Dougie then played AJ in, and his cross just eluded Michael, who was well placed in the area.

Goater was then offside but shortly after he got free, and it was only a foot stuck out by Cedric that saved Palace from going behind once again in the match. A free kick to Palace saw Danny B hit the wall and then Dougie played the ball neatly to AJ, the defence just managing to block the shot on goal as it looked as if Palace might score. It was certainly end-to-end stuff at Selhurst Park.

Reading made the first change of the match, Goater making way for Dave Kitson, and then Dougie saw his shot blocked once again by the defence. Julian almost got to the rebound, but the keeper pounced to deny him the chance. Reading then made their second change, replacing Owusu with Dean Morgan, and then we saw Kitson get a good cross in, Tony just managing to clear the danger for the Palace defence.

Shaun was booked for a foul on Morgan, and then AJ hit the side netting when it looked odds on that he would score. Two minutes was added on at the end, but there was little further action and the final whistle sounded with the points shared. Obviously Coppell did not come this time to give us the three points! Ah well, next week brings a fixture away to Forest; perhaps three points beckons there?

Colin Pryce

Crystal Palace: Cedric Berthelin, Danny Granville, Danny Butterfield, Tony Popovic, Mark Hudson, Wayne Routledge, Shaun Derry (Tom Soares 90), Michael Hughes, Julian Gray, Andrew Johnson, Dougie Freedman.

Substitutes not used: Mikele Leigertwood, Tommy Black, Gary Borrowdale, Jamie Smith.

Reading: Marcus Hahnemann, Andy Hughes, Ivar Ingimarsson, Adrian Williams, Nicholas Shorey, Scott Murray, Steven Sidwell, James Harper, John Salako, Shaun Goater (Dave Kitson 83), Lloyd Owusu (Dean Morgan 86).

Substitutes not used: Paul Brooker, Jamie Young, Basir Savage.

Attendance: 17,853

Referee: Mr G Poll