Bolton Wanderers - 3 (Taylor 3. Johansen 25. Jensen 34.)
Crystal Palace - 0

The critics were all saying that Palace had never beaten Bolton (away), and even the Palace official website mentions this fact. A quick look at the table shows us that this is not quite true; although it would be true of the League we certainly beat them in 1980/81 in a Cup match. The other major news of note coming out of this match is that Palace quoted Attilio Lombardo and Matt Jansen out injured whereas all the newspapers say that Matt refused to play and he is now expected to sign for Newcastle within the week! Guess we will just have to wait and see, as usual. For some unknown reason, though I guess it is just the uncertainty regarding Matt all through the current season, I feel that if any team is silly enough to pay £5m or more for him we would be better off to let him go. The advantages of this, of course, would be that the uncertainty would be over (and who really believes he would stay if we do not get promoted?) and the money could well be used to purchase not one but two good players to replace him. Those watching the game live in England tell me that we played poorly, but the score should tell us that. Thank goodness Craig Moore is back next week!

Anyway, enough of the moans and groans, let's get on with the match report, poor though it is from our point of view.

The game started with Palace winning a couple of throw ins, but on the first attacking move from the home side Hayden Mullins was, somewhat harshly, adjudged to have fouled Mark Fish and a free kick was awarded just outside the area. Scott Sellars took the kick, floated the ball past Kevin Miller, and found Bob Taylor who was presented with a header right on the line. Less than three minutes showing on the clock, and already we were 1-0 down. Immediately following this Palace made an attacking move, but Fan Zhiyi's long range shot went well wide of the mark. With play going from end to end Icelandic striker Arnar Gunnlaugsson was sent clear by Per Frandsen, but Miller made a great save, then Sagi Burton saw his shot go just wide after Simon Rodger sent in a good cross. It was then a corner to Palace, but the chance was wasted, then the 25th minute arrived on the clock, and things went from bad to worse for the visiting side. Gunnlaugsson turned provider for Michael Johansen, who managed to get past a couple of defenders to turn in a drive that gave Miller no chance. Our best chance of the first half came when Rodger sent a ball in which found Lee Bradbury, and though Lee was well placed he somehow managed to send the ball wide once again. Following this let off Bolton really put the game beyond our reach when Frandsen put a great cross through the defence for Claus Jensen, who with a perfect run, ran around Miller and placed the ball into the empty goal. The first half from there on produced not a single chance on goal for either side, though in truth Bolton were probably not really trying too hard.

With Bolton obviously satisfied to hang on to their lead Palace played somewhat better in the second half, though they only really created two chances that were worthy of mention. First Craig Foster hit a sweetly timed shot at goal, the only problem being that Jussi Jaaskelainen was standing directly in the path of the ball and he managed to beat it away from the goal. The keeper then made the save of the afternoon when a full blooded shot from Rodger saw him dive full length to just tip out the ball. The substitutions that were made by both sides seemed to have little effect on the match, though in truth Palace were well and truly beaten by the time the first half came to a close. Just what Terry Venables is going to do about the current situation remains to be seen, but I sincerely hope that he does something soon!

After the match in an interview Terry is reported as having said that Matt Jansen had told him shortly before the team left for the trip north that he was feeling unsettled by all the talk about him moving on, and that he did not feel up to the game. "I have to say that Matt's decision does disappoint me," Venables said. "He said he was not tuned in mentally to play." When asked to confirm that Matt was about to move on he said "He could be." I guess we will all be wiser sometime, though just when that sometime will be I really have no idea!

Colin Pryce

Bolton Wanderers: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Neil Cox, Mike Whitlow (Robbie Elliott 81), Per Frandsen, Paul Warhurst, Mark Fish, Michael Johansen, Claus Jensen, Arnar Gunnlaugsson, Robert Taylor (Dean Holdsworth 77), Scott Sellars (Ricardo Gardener 77).
Not Used: None.

Crystal Palace: Kevin Miller, Sun Jihai, Jason Crowe (David Amsalem 68), Sagi Burton, Dave Tuttle, Craig Foster, Hayden Mullins, Simon Rodger (Nick Rizzo 74), Fan Zhiyi, Clinton Morrison (Marcus Bent 57), Lee Bradbury.
Not Used: None.

Attendance: 15,410
Referee: Mr R Pearson (Peterlee).