Crystal Palace - 2 (Svensson 5. Own Goal 61.)
Ipswich Town - 2 (Holland 11. Johnson 34.)

With Ipswich Town riding high in the table and Palace having won their last three games, this was always going to be a closely contested match. At least, that was what the Selhurst faithful were hoping. The way Town had been performing of late we really could have been on a hiding to nothing. That maybe we could have won the game is indisputable, but a point is more than a worthy result, and puts us a little closer to survival this season.

Though Ipswich made most of the running for the duration of the match we really were not without our chances right through the game. The ideal start was made when Leon McKenzie made a good run down the left and put in a perfect cross for Matthias Svensson to meet first time from right in front, his header giving Richard Wright no possibility of pulling off a save. Only five minutes gone, and we were already ahead.

The lead was not to last long though, as Ipswich started to show the class that we all know they possess, and just six minutes later they were back on level terms. A David Johnson cross found Matt Holland lurking just a few yards out, and his header went straight into the back of the net. Mick Scowcroft should have made more of the opportunity presented to him just after, but Town did not waste a lot of time gaining the lead when Johnson added his own goal with a great shot that left Fraser Digby standing. The last 10 minutes of the half passed without any significant moves on goal from either side, and we went to the break 2-1 down.

The second half saw Palace full of running, and though Matthias once again found the back of the net, the referee ruled that there was push involved, and disallowed the goal.

The Town keeper then had to be alert when once again Matthias almost caught them napping with a bicycle kick that was just pushed away, but finally our equalising goal did come, though in a manner that is not often seen. A goal kick taken by Fraser found Matthias who helped the ball upfield with a long speculative kick. Tony Mowbray stuck out a foot, and the ball lobbed straight up over the advancing Wright, and happily settled into the back of the unguarded net. No matter how the goals come we would gladly accept a goal a week like this!

Despite a further 30 minutes of the game still being left to play Ipswich now found it difficult to penetrate the Palace defence, and to their credit the team held out for a well deserved point. Now, if only that goal had been allowed to stand - well, another day maybe.

Colin Pryce

Crystal Palace: Fraser Digby, Andrew Frampton (Nick Rizzo 81), Andy Linighan, Dean Austin, Fan Zhiyi, Andrew Martin (David Woozley 30), Craig Foster, Hayden Mullins, Simon Rodger, Matthias Svensson, Leon McKenzie.

Substitutes not used: Steve Mautone, Steve Kabba, Stephen Evans.

Ipswich Town: Richard Wright, Jamie Clapham, Gary Croft, John McGreal, Tony Mowbray, Wayne Brown, Mick Stockwell (Jermaine Wright 71), Matt Holland, Jim Magilton, David Johnson (Jonas Axeldal 52), James Scowcroft.

Substitutes not used: Fabian Wilnis, Mark Venus, Mike Salmon.

Attendance: 13,176

Referee: Mr S Baines (Chesterfield).