Crystal Palace - 3 (Johnson 20. 75. Gray 89.)
Coventry City - 0

For this third round match we faced Coventry City, who over the last 30 or so years has had by far the better of our encounters. We met them earlier this season at Highfield Road, where they ran out 1-0 winners, and so far this season they have managed to stay somewhere among the top runners in the League. They nearly managed to start this tie off in spectacular fashion, Lee Mills missing the mark from just a few yards out after only 30 seconds or so had elapsed. Palace was awarded an early corner, but the resulting kick from the corner mark, taken by Danny Butterfield, was easily plucked out of the air by the alert Morten Hydlgaard.

A shot at goal by Craig Hignett went flying over the top, whilst our attempt at the other end, fired in by Andy Johnson, was once again well held by the keeper. Mills then got a chance at opening the scoring, this time Alex Kolinko saving the ball fairly easily. Another corner to Palace was cleared by the defence and the ball made its' way down to the other end where Gary McAllister played provider to Muhamed Konjic, his header going well over the bar.

Ex-Palace player Dean Gordon then fired in a rocket-like shot from well out of the area, and though the shot went wide of the mark on the right of goal it was very reminiscent of some of the strikes that he made all those years ago for Palace. Konjic tried another shot that once again went over the top before Dele Adebola got a cross in that was met first time by AJ, his header finding the back of the net, much to the delight of the Palace faithful there on the night. Aki Riihilahti fired a long-range shot that went past the post without disturbing the scoreline and Dougie Freedman fired in a shot that missed on the other side of the goalmouth.

Obviously Dougie managed to feel a twinge from this attempt, as he was very quickly replaced, Julian Gray coming on to take his place. Mills managed to get caught offside just when it looked as if he might get through on goal, and with his next attempt he missed the goal after a good cross in from Richie Partridge presented him with the opportunity to score. Aki tried another snap at goal, but the keeper managed to snatch this one out of the air, and shortly after a corner to Palace saw Julian fire his shot well over the top of the bar.

Partridge tried once again to force the ball into the centre, but Alex quickly snuffed out the danger, and from a free kick at the other end AJ pulled his shot wide of the goal. Julian got a shot on goal that was well saved by the keeper, and from the next corner, once again to Palace, it was Darren Powell who got the final touch to direct the ball goalwards before Hydlgaard once more came to the visitors rescue.

The half time whistle sounded, and we had to be content with our one goal lead, and though we had looked somewhat vulnerable for the first few minutes of the match we had looked better as time had gone on, and certainly deserved our lead.

The start of the second half saw an immediate substitution made by Palace, Alex coming off in favour of Nik Michopoulos. One can only hope that any injury to Alex is only minor, and that this was more a precautionary move by Trevor Francis. Aki once again fired a shot at goal that was well saved by the keeper, and as play went from end to end Coventry made a couple of substitutions of their own, the first bringing Jay Bothroyd on for Mills, and the second bringing Youssef Chippo on for Brian Kerr. In between these changes Gordon fired a shot once more at our goal, but it was Hignett who got in the way, the ball deflecting to safety.

McAllister fired in a corner to Coventry, but Tony Popovic was on hand to clear the danger, and Palace made their third and final substitution of the night, Aki being replaced by Steve Thomson, making a welcome return to the side. A cross into the centre by Dele found AJ, his shot going over the bar, and his next shot went wide of the post. He was then caught offside, the free kick to Coventry really making no headway against our resolute defence.

Darren then fired a header goalwards, the ball missing the goal and going out for a goal kick. A foul on Dele by Youssef Safi resulted in Shaun Derry firing the free kick well over the top of the bar, and at the other end Nik did well to save a shot on goal from Bothroyd, tipping the ball around the post for a corner, which Coventry proceeded to waste. Safi then found himself in the book for one too many fouls, this time on Hayden Mullins.

As it started to look as though we might get away with just a one goal win on the night up once again bobbed AJ, this time firing in a long range shot that blasted into the back of the net. Suddenly we were much more comfortable at 2-0. AJ tried to complete his hat trick, but his header was well dealt with by the keeper, and then Bothroyd was booked for a foul on AJ, the free kick being wasted.

John Eustace replaced Gary Caldwell, and Hignett then got a shot on goal, his effort going over the top of the bar. A corner to the visitors was once again wasted, but we returned the compliment at the other end, allowing Konjic to clear the ball from their danger area. As time seemed to be getting away from us, and the match neared the end, Steve got into the play, pushing the ball to Julian who made no mistake from close in to the goal, firing the ball into the back of the net.

There was little time for much further action, though Hignett did get a shot on goal that went over the top, and as the final whistle sounded the Palace fans celebrated the arrival of the Eagles into the last 16 in this Cup competition. One wonders who we might meet in the next round, but for news on that we will all have to wait for the draw on Saturday.

Colin Pryce

Crystal Palace: Alex Kolinko (Nikolaos Michopoulos 45), Danny Granville, Hayden Mullins, Tony Popovic, Darren Powell, Danny Butterfield, Shaun Derry, Aki Riihilahti (Steve Thomson 62), Dele Adebola, Dougie Freedman (Julian Gray 25), Andy Johnson.

Substitutes not used: Kit Symons, Tommy Black.

Coventry City: Morten Hydlgaard, Gary Caldwell (John Eustace 82), Calum Davenport, Dean Gordon, Muhamed Konjic, Brian Kerr (Youssef Chippo 58), Gary McAllister, Richie Partridge, Youssef Safi, Craig Hignett, Lee Mills (Jay Bothroyd 55).

Substitutes not used: Fabien Debec, Richard Shaw.

Attendance: 8,102

Referee: Mr R Styles (Hampshire)