Crystal Palace - 1 (Johnson 12.)
Nottingham Forest - 0

Having slipped into the relegation zone during the week, Palace desperately needed the three points on offer here today. Kit Symons obviously gained permission from Simon Jordan to play Julian Gray, and as such it proved what a good player we had been missing during the course of the first half of the season.

Forest got the match underway, but it was Wayne Routledge who made the first run on goal. Julian then curled a great shot goalwards, and he was only denied by the woodwork, in what would have been a dream return to the side. Andy Johnson hit a shot wide of the mark before Julian sent in a cross that Tony Popovic headed towards the goal, the keeper, Darren Ward, just managing to get a hand to the ball to tip it behind for a corner. John Thompson then hit a shot that went well over the bar, and Michael Hughes made a good run on goal, drew the last defender, and simply played AJ in to tap the ball home, and open the account for Palace. Even at this early stage, the boos that had greeted Julian had turned into cheers each time he touched the ball.

Forest did not seem to have any answer to the barrage they had been placed under, though a corner to Forest kept the Palace defence on their toes. Eoin Jess sent a shot just wide of the post, and then Michael was booked for a tackle on Eugen Bopp.

The free kick was cleared by the Palace defence, at the cost of a corner, and it was Rob Edwards who made the clearance, as the ball sailed into our area. Wayne got the ball through to AJ once more, and though he could not score this time, the ball went behind for a corner, which the keeper held on to, averting any possible further damage. Due to an injury Forest made an early change to their line-up, with Chris Doig replacing Gregor Robertson, and the next piece of action saw Julian getting back to clear any danger for Palace.

Thompson sent in a low cross that Jess sent just over the top before AJ was pulled down by Gareth Williams, the free kick being wasted. Jamie Smith cleared the ball from the feet of Andy Reid, and then Michael was brought down by Williams, the free kick finding Gary Borrowdale, then Michael once again, and he was again brought down, this time on the edge of the area. This time Julian took the shot, and the keeper just managed to tip the ball over the top of the bar.

Marlon King was booked, for dissent, and with little time left the half came to an end, and one can be sure that Kit, and all the Palace faithful, would have been asking for more of the same in the second half.

Palace kicked off, heading towards the Holmesdale End, and Danny Butterfield tried a shot that was just averted by the defence. AJ was then booked for diving, though the Palace supporters will tell you that the ruling was a little harsh. Mind you, the Forest supporters might not say that!

King sent in a cross that Thomas Myhre dealt with and Gary played Aki Riihilahti in, his shot going well past the intended target. Reid got clear at the back post, but Jamie got in the way of the shot, and Wes Morgan was booked for a poor tackle on AJ. This was to prove significant a little later in the game, but for the moment Julian took the kick, and Tony was adjudged to have fouled his marker, and the pressure was released.

Danny Sonner tried a shot that Tony cleared, and as Forest played the corner in Jess found himself offside, just as it looked as if he might have a chance of levelling the scores. Bopp fouled Julian, but even as the Palace players and supporters were wondering just why he was not booked, he repeated the action, this time against Michael, and he duly received a yellow card. Aki then made a forward run, and this time Morgan pulled him down without penalty, but when he tripped AJ moments later he was booked, and two yellows make a red card, and he was off for an early bath.

Palace decided to make a change, taking AJ off before he could "earn" a second yellow card, and it was Dougie Freedman who came in to the action. Forest used the opportunity to take Jess off, the replacement player being Brynjar Gunnarsson. King was caught offside, and as Julian was felled by Sonner it was left to Michael to float the ball in, but Danny hit the shot well over the top of the bar. Dougie then set Danny free, but he was unable to beat the defence, and shortly after a cross in from Danny found Wayne, but his header went well wide of the sticks.

Forest made their final change of the game, Sonner making way for Craig Westcarr, and a series of attacks from the visitors were dealt with quite easily by a strong looking Palace defence. Player/Manager Kit decided it was time for him to take to the field, and Jamie made way for him with but a few minutes left on the clock. With little further action, and despite three minutes of added on time, Palace held on to their lead, and a welcome win it was for the crowd, and presumably the players.

We now look forward to our trip to the Madjeski Stadium, and a date with Steve Coppell's Reading next Saturday.

Colin Pryce

Crystal Palace: Thomas Myhre, Jamie Smith (Kit Symons 88), Tony Popovic, Rob Edwards, Gary Borrowdale, Danny Butterfield, Aki Riihilahti, Michael Hughes, Julian Gray, Andrew Johnson (Dougie Freedman 72), Wayne Routledge.

Substitutes not used: Cedric Berthelin, Ben Watson, Tommy Black.

Nottingham Forest: Darren Ward, John Thompson, Des Walker, Wes Morgan, Gregor Robertson (Christopher Doig 25), Danny Sonner (Craig Westcarr 81), Eugen Bopp, Gareth Williams, Andy Reid, Marlon King, Eoin Jess (Brynjar Gunnarsson 72).

Substitutes not used: Ross Gardner, Barry Roche.

Attendance: 16,935

Referee: Mr A Hall