Portsmouth - 3 (Fuller 3. Berger 47. Popovic og 85.)
Crystal Palace - 1 (Granville 43.)

In a game where many Palace supporters felt we had a chance of taking a point or even three, the very first real action of the game saw Patrik Berger pass the ball from just outside the area, and Ricardo Fuller blast the ball home from the centre of the area, and we were 1-0 down before most had even had time to take their seats. This was followed by a corner to the home side, which was floated in by Eyal Berkovic, the Palace defence being equal to the task, clearing the danger from our area.

Berkovic tried to send in another chance to Portsmouth, but Danny Granville was on hand to block the ball, and following another corner to Pompey we finally got our first corner; Wayne Routledge sending the ball in, but it was cleared by Arjan De Zeeuw. Another corner to Palace met the same fate, this time the clearance coming from David Unsworth, and following an injury to De Zeeuw Portsmouth were forced into an early substitution, with Matthew Taylor taking his place. Another corner to Portsmouth came in from Berkovic, with Aki Riihilahti ensuring the clearance was made for Palace.

Steve Stone tried a shot on goal that fortunately went well to the right of the upright, and Julian Speroni was merely left with a goal kick for Palace. Taylor sent in a cross that was well dealt with by Mark Hudson, and Tony Popovic was on hand to deal with the next cross that came in, this time from Fuller. Aiyegbeni Yakubu powered a shot in that Julian did well to hang on to, before a corner at the other end was fired goalwards by Joonas Kolkka, the home defence having little trouble to clear the ball.

Aki sent in a long range shot that missed the upright, and Shaka Hislop was able to send his goal kick long to relieve the pressure. A foul by Unsworth on Andy Johnson saw Danny take the free kick, his effort hitting the woodwork and bouncing clear, before Joonas tried a shot that the keeper held on to, denying him his maiden goal for Palace.

Sandor Torghelle was caught offside, and another corner to Palace led to little danger to the home side's goal and play continued from end to end. Stone tried a shot that Julian managed to tip over the top of the bar, and the resulting corner was cleared, once again by the keeper. Berger had a chance, his effort going wide of the mark before Dejan Stefanovic was caught offside. Nigel Quashie tried a shot that missed, this time to the left of the upright, and Fuller attempted another that missed to the other side.

As the first half was rapidly coming to an end Wayne took another corner for Palace, and this time Danny was there to powerfully head the ball home, and the score was finally back on an even keel. With little further action the half came to an end, and though Iain would have been happy with the late fight back, he would have been urging the players to go out and do a bit better in the second half. Alas, this did not happen.

Within moments of the half starting Berger was well placed to slot the ball home, and once again we were a goal down. AJ was caught offside, and shortly after Portsmouth made their second change, this time replacing Fuller with Diomansy Kamara.

Fitz Hall had a shot on goal that the keeper quite easily plucked out of the air, and then a foul by Linvoy Primus on Sandor led to the referee immediately pointing to the penalty spot. AJ stepped up, but Hislop guessed the right way and parried the ball away to safety.

Quashie tried a shot that missed the goal before Sandor fouled Berger, the free kick hitting the defensive wall and bouncing clear of our danger area. Mark had a shot that missed the goal as well, and another corner to Palace was well cleared by the Pompey defence. An inswinging cross from Berger was well dealt with by Emmerson Boyce, and Tony cleared a corner to the home side. Quashie sent in a corner to Portsmouth, and though Stefanovic rose highest his header missed the target, and we all breathed a sigh of relief.

Palace decided to make a change, bringing on Nicola Ventola for Joonas, before Taylor headed the ball once again wide of the posts. A free kick for a foul by Aki on Kamara saw Berger drag his shot wide of goal once again, and Fitz was booked for a foul on Berger. Stone tried another cross in that Mark cleared well and Kamara had a shot that was well kept out by Julian. As the ball came back in though Tony somehow back-heeled the ball once again into his own net, and the game was all but over at 3-1 down. This was the second week in a row he has somehow managed that, we really must get him a job at the other end of the park!

Palace made another change, bringing on Michael Hughes for Aki before Shaun Derry was booked for a foul on Taylor, and as the minutes slowly ticked away the action became less and less until the final whistle blew. The game was all over, and we had suffered another defeat, but this time next week hopefully we can be celebrating our first Premiership win when we meet Manchester City at Selhurst Park. One can only wonder what changes Iain might ring to the side that takes the park on that day.

Colin Pryce

Portsmouth: Shaka Hislop, Arjan De Zeeuw (Matthew Taylor 12), Linvoy Primus, Dejan Stefanovic, David Unsworth, Patrik Berger, Eyal Berkovic (Amdy Faye 62), Nigel Quashie, Steve Stone, Ricardo Fuller (Diomansy Kamara 54), Aiyegbeni Yakubu.

Substitutes not used: Jamie Ashdown, Lomana Tresor Lua Lua.

Crystal Palace: Julian Speroni, Emmerson Boyce, Danny Granville, Fitz Hall, Mark Hudson, Tony Popovic, Aki Riihilahti (Michael Hughes 86), Andrew Johnson, Joonas Kolkka (Nicola Ventola 70), Wayne Routledge (Shaun Derry 86), Sandor Torghelle.

Substitutes not used: Gabor Kiraly, Darren Powell.

Attendance: 20,019

Referee: Mr P Dowd