Crystal Palace - 1 (Butterfield 45.)
Derby County - 1 (Zavagno 73.)

Palace really needed to build on their win 10 days previously against Cardiff City, but Derby County has proved difficult to beat on their travels so far this season, and this was to prove the case today.

The first action saw Dougie Freedman foul Luciano Zavagno, the free kick being taken by Andy Oakes. This was followed by Dougie getting the first shot on goal, the ball being deflected behind for a corner by Pablo Mills. Danny Butterfield fired the corner kick in, Zavagno making the clearance from the goal area. Alves Candido Costa fouled Wayne Routledge, who was once again proving a handful for the visiting defence, and following the free kick Dougie got another shot on goal, Zavagno once again getting into the action with a good clearance, though the ball went behind for another corner. Danny fired the ball back into the area, and Darren Powell saw his header go over the top of the bar.

Palace won another corner following a cross in by Tommy Black, and this time Michael Hughes sent the ball into the area, the clearance coming from Simo Valakari. The next corner saw the same result, though the clearance came from Tom Huddlestone, and though the pressure was all coming from Palace they seemed unable to convert any of the chances they were getting.

It was nearly the 18-minute mark before Derby got their first shot on goal, Lee Morris firing his effort wide of the post, leaving Cedric Berthelin to take his first kick at the ball from the resulting goal kick. Danny fired a cross into the centre, the clearance being made by Mills, and then a foul by Shaun Derry saw a free kick for Derby in a dangerous position. Huddlestone hit the wall with the kick, and Palace swept up to the other end of the field once more, but still the goal would not come.

Huddlestone fired a shot goalwards that was cleared by Darren, and then Costa chanced his arm, Cedric doing well to hang on to the ball. Dougie was caught offside just as it looked as if Tommy might play him in, and then Curtis Fleming was booked for a foul on Huddlestone. The free kick was deflected behind for the first corner to Derby, but Kit Symons cleared the danger, and then Costa fired a long-range shot in that Cedric managed to parry away.

A series of throw-ins followed with neither side gaining the advantage before Dougie won a corner that was cleared by Lee Holmes. As we entered injury time in the first half Michael fired a cross in that was met first time by Danny, and the ball flew into the back of the net. 1-0 to Palace, and the break was upon us.

Steve Kember would have been pleased with the late strike, but presumably concerned that so many chances had been created for so little reward.

Derby made an immediate substitution at the start of the second stanza of play, Marcus Tudgay coming on for Morris, and his first action was to be caught offside. Neil Shipperley fired a shot at goal that Andy Oakes did well to beat out before Costa tried a shot that Cedric held on to easily.

Another corner to Palace was cleared by Mills, and then Ian Taylor was caught offside as the visitors looked to push further up the field in search of the equaliser. A free kick to Palace following a foul on Tommy by Huddlestone saw Neil head the ball towards goal, the keeper doing well to hang on to the ball.

Derby made another change, Michael Johnson being replaced by Steve Elliott and then Neil tried another shot that was blocked by the defence, the corner leading to him putting the ball over the bar for a goal kick.

Taylor was caught offside once more, and yet another corner to Palace was again kept out by the defence. Tommy tried a shot that was blocked by Valakari, and the resulting corner saw Danny fire the ball in only for Neil to blast the ball over the bar. Tommy was then caught offside, and a cross into the centre by Costa saw Curtis clear the danger. Darren was then booked for unsporting behaviour, and this was to prove crucial late in the game.

An innocuous cross in to the centre by Zavagno saw the ball elude both the defence and Cedric, and inexplicably the ball rolled across the line, and suddenly we were back on level terms. Wayne tried an overhead kick that went wide of the target, and shortly after he got a good cross in to Dougie, his attempt being well held by the keeper. With only seven minutes remaining Palace made their first, and as it transpired their only, change of the match, Michael making way for Ben Watson, who made quite an impact in the few remaining minutes.

He got a good cross in to Wayne, his shot going over the bar, and then the compliment was returned, Wayne getting the ball to Ben, though his shot went wide of the upright. As we entered injury time Tommy fired a cross in that Dougie met well, his shot hitting the woodwork, and with only moments to go Darren was booked for the second time, for a foul on Tudgay, and of course that became an automatic red card, and he was on his way off the pitch.

With precious little time left the play wound down, and the final whistle went. A single point will look to most supporters as two points lost, and they are most likely correct. It appears that Steve still has some work to do with the side, especially from set pieces.

Colin Pryce

Crystal Palace: Cedric Berthelin, Curtis Fleming, Kit Symons, Darren Powell, Danny Butterfield, Shaun Derry, Michael Hughes (Ben Watson 83), Tommy Black, Neil Shipperley, Dougie Freedman, Wayne Routledge.

Substitutes not used: Lance Cronin, Aki Riihilahti, Gary Borrowdale, Gareth Williams.

Derby County: Andy Oakes, Richard Jackson, Pablo Mills, Michael Johnson (Steve Elliott 53), Luciano Zavagno, Simo Valakari, Ian Taylor, Tom Huddlestone, Alves Candido Costa, Lee Holmes, Lee Morris (Marcus Tudgay 45).

Substitutes not used: Lee Grant, Adam Bolder, Paul Boertien.

Attendance: 14,344

Referee: Mr P Armstrong