Portsmouth - 1 (Whittingham 89.)
Crystal Palace - 1 (Bradbury 3.)

This match could probably best be described as the two points that really did get away, though in truth, against 10 man Portsmouth for nearly half an hour, we should have put the game beyond the home sides reach long before the end. As usual somehow we contrived to let in a last minute goal (we have conceded 10 in the last five minutes of a match this season!) to see a "certain" away win fall from our grasp. In the end a point each was a fair result, but as Palace supporters I guess we always hope for more. At least we have now managed to go five matches without a defeat, and considering before that everyone was concerned about relegation and could not see where our next point was going to come from, the team has performed well beyond all our expectations.

A lot of our supporters made the relatively short trip to the coast to cheer the team on, if nothing else it shows the resilience of the Palace supporter. The referee, best described as inconsistent, seemed to brandish cards for offences that were not as bad as some that he did not take any action over, but it seems to be the way things go these days.

The match got underway, the first couple of minutes bringing an inordinate number of throw-ins. It seemed as if no-one could keep the ball in play. An easy save by Alan Knight belied what was to follow shortly. Gordan Petric sent in a cross that Knight allowed to bounce in front of him. The ball hardly bounced at all, and as it came off his legs Lee Bradbury was on hand to easily slot the ball into the back of the net. Only three minutes gone, and we were a goal up. Action at the other end saw Craig Moore make a good clearance, then a shot by Sammy Igoe from 18 yards went high and wide of the mark. A Dave Tuttle throw-in then saw Knight deal with a potentially threatening situation, then Petric was called upon twice to clear the Palace lines. Jeff Peron then took a shot that Jamie Smith did well to block, and a shot from Adrian Whitbread was comfortably covered by Kevin Miller. 20 minutes showing on the clock the first yellow card came out, "awarded" to Petric, though the free kick taken by Fitzroy Simpson came to nothing. It was during this period that the Palace midfield started to play well, certainly making us look the better controlled side on the field of play. The second yellow card came out, this time going to Michalis Vlachos. Petric stepped up to take the free kick, but his rocket shot was just wide of the post. The two players that had been booked were then involved in a clash that held up play for a minute or two, whilst they both seeked treatment. Guy Whittingham then started to show why he had scored six goals in seven games whilst on loan from Sheffield Wednesday, producing a good save from Miller that was tipped away for a corner.

Clinton Morrison was the next with a good chance, the keeper forcing him wide and his shot only managing to find the side netting. Back at our end Igoe put a shot over the bar when we failed to clear our area, and Whittingham headed the next shot over the bar. Another good save by Miller denied Whittingham close to the end of the half, but their best chance came in injury time when Matt Robinson hit the bar with Miller well beaten, the ball falling fortuitously straight back into Miller's hands.

An early substitution in the second half saw Petric replaced by Steve Evans, but after his knock earlier in the game, and the fact that he already had a yellow card, this was really most understandable.. A corner to Pompey was quickly followed by a centre at the other end by Jamie Smith which was easily held by the keeper. Chances by Vlachos and Andy Awford were poorly taken, and then another yellow card was given to Vlachos. Being his second he was duly dismissed from the field of play, and suddenly we were playing 10 men, with a one goal lead. Morrison found Smith, the ball falling to Steve Thomson who shot just wide, then Fan Zhiyi managed to repeat the move, once again shooting wide of the mark. A good chance to the home side was missed by Stefani Niglioranzi, who had just taken the field of play, then the next yellow card came out, this time to Morrison. Moore and Andy Linighan combined well to keep the Palace line intact, followed by a desperate clearing move at the other end.

Fan then played Morrison in for what should have been our second, and the clinching goal, but he fluffed the shot and the keeper was able to tip it away for another corner. A clearance at our end was well executed by Bradbury, who was having a fine match against his old Club, and the Pompey faithful started to file out of the ground. A long ball in the dying seconds saw Whittingham somehow manage to get around Miller, and with little time left the scores were level. Luke Nightingale somehow managed to miss a free header as the whistle was about to go, placing the ball straight to Miller, and the game was over.

A fair result, or two points lost? I will let you make up your own minds.

Colin Pryce

Portsmouth: Alan Knight, Matt Robinson, Fitzroy Simpson (Luke Nightingale 86), Alan McLoughlin, Adrian Whitbread, Andy Awford, Guy Whittingham, Jeff Peron, Michalis Vlachos, John Durnin (Stefani Niglioranzi 70), Sammy Igoe.
Not Used: Thomas Thorgesen.

Crystal Palace: Kevin Miller, Jamie Smith, Gordan Petric (Steve Evans 47), Dave Tuttle, Craig Moore, Andy Linighan, Steve Thomson, Fan Zhiyi, Lee Bradbury, Clinton Morrison, Hayden Mullins.
Not Used: Sun Jihai, Leon McKenzie

Attendance: 15,520
Referee: Mr P.R. Richards (Preston).