Crystal Palace - 0
Burnley - 0
Burnley got the match underway, kicking towards the Holmesdale End, and the first action saw Andy Johnson caught offside. Luke Chadwick then fired a shot goalwards, but the defence was equal to the task, and Wayne Routledge sent in a pass that was just too strong for Julian Gray.
Curtis Fleming was hurt, but following treatment was able to continue, and Neil Shipperley flicked on a pass that the keeper did well to gather. Curtis was not as well as hoped though, and an early substitution followed with Gary Borrowdale replacing him.
Tony Grant fired a weak shot at goal that gave Thomas Myhre, making a welcome return to the side, little trouble before a series of corners to our visitors put us under a little pressure, though the defence held well. Chadwick fired a shot goalwards that Thomas again held safely. Neil found AJ, who tried a shot that went wide of the mark, and AJ then returned the compliment, playing Neil in, though he was unable to get on the end of the cross.
A series of niggling fouls followed, from both sides, but neither team seemed to gain the ascendancy, and a cross from Ben Watson saw Brian Jensen just beat Neil to the ball. Gary then got the ball through to Julian whose first time cross had AJ firing just wide of the post, and though AJ was soon fouled by David May play was allowed to continue, and the shot on goal was blocked. Julian tried a shot that was well gathered by the keeper before AJ made a good run, passed the ball to an unmarked Julian, and his shot sailed over the top of the bar whilst the goal remained gaping wide.
Neil fired a shot at goal that was blocked by Paul Weller, and his next shot went well wide of the mark. AJ then sent a shot over the top of the bar, and Danny Granville tried his luck, only for his shot to be gathered by the keeper. Chadwick got clear at the other end, but Jamie Smith cut out any danger, and despite 2 minutes of added on time there was little further action, and the sides trooped off all locked up at 0-0.
Just what Iain Dowie said in the sheds remains a mystery, but the second half fare was little better than the first, and he really is going to have sort something out about our attacking options. Any thought given to Gareth Williams getting a run, Mr Dowie?
Palace got the second half going and Jamie played the ball well in to Ben, his shot rising high and wide over the bar before Danny Butterfield fired in a cross that went straight to the keeper. Chadwick fouled AJ, and the resulting free kick saw Ben quickly play the ball to Neil, but the cross was just too deep, and he was unable to latch on to the ball.
Burnley made a change to their line-up, with Chadwick making way for Glen Little, and as Robbie Blake looked clear on goal a last ditch tackle from Jamie averted any danger. AJ knocked the ball back to Neil, his weak shot merely rolling to the keeper, and then Julian fed the ball to AJ, his chance being blocked by Mark McGregor in the heart of the Burnley defence. Grant was booked for a foul on Danny B, which earned him a yellow card before Robert Blake managed to get clear of Tony, though Danny G retrieved the situation.
A corner to Palace was wasted, and we really must learn to make better use of these set pieces, and Palace made a change to the line-up, bringing Dougie Freedman on for Neil, though a few boos emanated when the official showed the wrong number, firstly indicating that Wayne would come off before the number was changed, just in time to stop any problems on the field.
McGregor fired a good shot on goal that Thomas sent behind for a corner, though the opportunity for our visitors was cleared at the first attempt. An obvious handball by Lee Roche was not paid by the referee, and then Ben fired a shot goalwards that the keeper did well to keep out. Ben then fired a shot over the top of the bar and Blake forced Thomas into a fine stop at the other end. Tony went down injured, forcing a change to bring on Tommy Black in his place before another corner was wasted by the Palace attack.
Blake fired a shot well wide of the post, and Burnley made another change, this time Graham Branch replacing Richard Chaplow. A corner to Burnley saw an overhead kick attempted by Tony Grant, though the ball rolled harmlessly through to Thomas in goal. Tommy fired a shot wide when he may have done better to pass the ball to others, and chances to Dougie and Wayne went begging as the Burnley defence held on. Danny G forced a good save from the keeper, and Julian sent in a rasping shot that the keeper did well to hang on to.
Two minutes was added on at the death, but the game came to an end with nothing further to report. Once again Palace fans felt as if they had lost two points, not gained one, and we shall have to see what attacking options Iain Dowie employs in the near future.
Colin Pryce
Crystal Palace: Thomas Myhre, Curtis Fleming (Gary Borrowdale 12), Tony Popovic (Tommy Black 73), Jamie Smith, Danny Granville, Wayne Routledge, Ben Watson, Danny Butterfield, Julian Gray, Andrew Johnson, Neil Shipperley (Dougie Freedman 61).
Substitutes not used: Cedric Berthelin, Tom Soares.
Burnley: Brian Jensen, Lee Roche, David May, Mark McGregor, Mohammed Camara, Luke Chadwick (Glen Little 52), Richard Chaplow (Graham Branch 79), Tony Grant, Paul Weller, Robert Blake, Ian Moore.
Substitutes not used: Dean West, Alan Moore, Joel Pilkington.
Attendance: 15,276
Referee: Mr A Wiley