Burnley - 2 (Blake 10. Roche 18.)
Crystal Palace - 3 (Freedman pen 5. 31. 66.)

So, after what seemed an age since the last competitive game, suddenly the season was upon us once again. With all the "so called" experts tipping everything from promotion to relegation for the Eagles this season, it was going to be interesting to find out just how the team would perform for the new management team. One can be assured, following this match, that all the signs are that they are going to excel even the most ambitious fans' expectations! This performance, under trying climatic conditions (90F+), and against a referee that, to say the least, was not very kind to us, can only be classed as absolutely outstanding.

WBurnley got the match underway, but within seconds Andy Johnson got the first shot at goal, the ball being well stopped by the keeper, Brian Jensen. The next incident saw Dougie Freedman get past his marker, though as he shaped to fire a shot at goal he was brought down by Lee Roche, the referee having no hesitation in awarding a penalty.

Dougie picked himself up and took the shot, firing the ball under the diving keeper to open Palace's account for the season, and the travelling fans' were ecstatic with such a good start. Paul Weller was then booked for a foul on Dougie, but with less than nine minutes gone on the clock everything suddenly turned sour for Palace. Wayne Routledge brought down Luke Chadwick, and the referee immediately brandished a red card, and pointed to the penalty spot. The assistant referee (linesman to those of the old school) frantically indicated to Mr Foy that his decision was incorrect, and that the incident had taken place outside of the area; and consequently he "changed his mind" and ordered a free kick from just outside the area. Unfortunately for Wayne he did not change his mind on the dismissal, and we were down to 10 men for the bulk of the match. To compound matters Robert Blake fired the free kick straight past the "wall" and the diving Matt Clarke to level the scores.

Steve Kember immediately shuffled the side so that Andy took a more midfield role, with Dougie and Neil Shipperley maintaining the attacking role, but Dougie was caught offside, the free kick leading to a shot on goal taken by Glen Little (yes, yet another ex-Palace player), but the effort was well cleared by Darren Powell.

Mohammed Camara was the next to be caught offside, but shortly after Roche, the "villain" of the first action, became the "saviour" for the home crowd as he drilled home a rasping shot from 20 yards out that beat Matt into the top corner of the net. Palace made an early change to their line-up, Kit Symons making way for Gary Borrowdale, and a series of free kicks ensued, with neither side seeming to gain an advantage. Little tried a cross into the centre which missed attacking and defending players alike, the ball sailing out for a goal kick, whilst at the other end Palace won their first corner, the ball being pumped in by Ben Watson, though he failed to find a Palace shirt in the goalmouth scramble.

Neil was the next caught in the offside trap, though Blake returned to compliment a couple of minutes later. Ben got a great through-ball into the path of Dougie, and running around the final defender he drew the keeper towards him, ran round him too, and from a very acute angle slotted the ball into the back of the empty net. Most of the Palace contingent thought he had gone a little too far and made the angle impossible, but Dougie had his "firing boots" on today, and such trifling matters were hardly likely to deter him.

Blake took a corner for Burnley, with no better result than we had at the other end, before Lee Roche got in a cross that Darren, once again, was on hand to clear from the danger area. As we entered first half injury time Roche tried a long-range shot that went wide of the mark, and a final corner, to Burnley, caused little concern in the Palace goalmouth before the whistle sounded to signify the end of "hostilities" for the time being.

Most Palace supporters would have been pleased that the team managed to go into the break all square on the scoreboard, as playing with only 10 men, in the searing heat, the effort was appreciated by all. One cannot be sure what Steve Kember's reaction was, but the determination certainly did not evaporate after the break, despite more trying circumstances that were to follow.

Palace got the second stanza underway, and almost immediately Tony Popovic joined the others in the book for a foul on Blake, the free kick earning Burnley little advantage. Dougie accidentally handled the ball, breaking down a promising looking move, followed by a shot on goal by Blake that Matt did well to keep out. A corner shortly after was taken by Blake once again, though this time it was Danny Butterfield who cleared the danger, and the next time he tried it was Gary who got in the way of the ball finding an attacking minded player.

Blake tried another shot from distance but Matt once again was equal to the task, and Palace decided it was time for another change to the line-up, this time Aki Riihilahti replacing Ben, presumably as a consideration to the heat factor. Gary then put in a great cross that Andy shot goalwards, but the keeper was alert enough to parry the ball away. To his dismay though, and to the delight of the Palace supporters, the ball fell nicely to Dougie who was lurking a couple of yards out, and a simple header completed his hat-trick and put Palace back into the lead once more.

As if this was not enough excitement for one day, within moments Shaun Derry was booked for a foul on Paul Weller, and as it was his second offence the two yellow cards became an automatic red, and he was sent off with still some 23 minutes left on the clock. Palace were down to 9 men, and the rate things were going would anyone be left come the end of the match?

Richard Chaplow tried a cross into the area that Tony Popovic did well to clear, and then Little tried the same, his attempt being cleared by Darren. Was this the start of a build-up for the home team that could see our depleted side lose the advantage on the score card? As the clock ticked down Burnley replaced Weller with Tony Grant, and Palace made their final substitution, Jamie Smith replacing Gary, himself a first half sub.

Arthur Gnohere was the next to enter the referee's book, this time for a foul on Dougie, and Burnley made another change, this time Chaplow giving way to Dean West. Though he was brought on in a primarily defensive role Aki took what may well have been the shot of the match, Jensen bringing off a brilliant save to save the scoreline becoming embarrassing. A corner, taken by Little, produced no joy for the home side, and Jamie found his to be the next name in the book, this time for a foul on Little, which led to a free kick that Blake took. Graham Branch fired a shot over the top of the bar, but Palace were managing to wind down the minutes to victory, and a series of free kicks to Palace saw them almost wasting sufficient time to get themselves booked for this simple slowing down action.

Fortunately they played the ball soon enough to stop such action, but the final whistle sounded much to the relief of the Palace supporters in the crowd, and we came away with a hard earned three points, a Cup fixture to look forward to, and a fixture against Watford next Saturday that should, based on this performance, draw a bumper crowd to Selhurst Park.

Colin Pryce

Burnley: Brian Jensen, Mohammed Camara, Graham Branch, Arthur Gnohere, Lee Roche, Glen Little, Richard Chaplow (Dean West 79), Paul Weller (Tony Grant 76), Luke Chadwick, Alan Moore (Matthew O'Neill 83), Robert Blake.

Substitutes not used: Paul Scott.

Crystal Palace: Matthew Clarke, Darren Powell, Kit Symons (Gary Borrowdale 21, Jamie Smith 77), Tony Popovic, Danny Butterfield, Shaun Derry, Ben Watson (Aki Riihilahti 62), Wayne Routledge, Andrew Johnson, Dougie Freedman, Neil Shipperley.

Substitutes not used: Cedric Berthelin, Tommy Black.

Attendance: 12,976

Referee: Mr C Foy (Merseyside)