Crystal Palace - 2 (Adebola 6. Black 26.)
Norwich City - 0

On our previous good run, the unbeaten one, it was Norwich that stopped us, so we really owed them one in this match. Of course, this might have been easier said than done, as they were lying 4th in the League, so it was certainly not going to be an easy task. Norwich kicked off the match, but it was Palace that was in the thick of the action, with Tommy Black firing in a cross that just eluded Dele Adebola. Danny Granville then sent the ball into the middle, but the defence cleared the danger as Andy Johnson was waiting to slam the ball home.

The first goal was not to be long coming though. Tommy once again slotted the ball into the centre, and this time Dele made no mistake, coolly tapping the ball into the bottom corner of the net. We were 1-0 ahead, and only 5 or 6 minutes had elapsed. AJ then took a shot on goal, but the effort was blocked. Mark Rivers almost got clear, being marginally offside, and then Darren Kenton was booked for a foul on Tony Popovic. This was to have catastrophic effects shortly after, with Tony having to leave the field, Shaun Derry coming on to replace him. Hayden Mullins was thus forced to drop back into defence, as the Palace side reshaped.

A good forward move by Norwich saw Hayden cut out the danger, and AJ won a corner at the other end. Danny Butterfield sent the ball goalwards, but Danny G was penalised for a foul, and the move broke down. A most unusual sight then graced Selhurst Park, as Robert Green, in the visitors goal, clearly came out of his area with the ball still in hand, but somehow he evaded any penalty for his indiscretion.

Kit Symons cleared the next forward move from Norwich, and then Alex Kolinko made an easy save from a ball propelled forward by Clint Easton. Danny G sent a cross into the centre, and it was the smallest man, standing on the back post, that headed the ball into the back of the net. 2-0 to the Eagles, well done Tommy.

A cross at the other end saw Alex claim the ball well as Iwan Roberts was waiting for the chance to strike at goal, and as the ball came back to our end it was Aki Riihilahti who cut out the danger before Paul McVeigh could strike. Norwich won a corner that they wasted before a free kick was poorly placed straight to Alex, with little pace on the ball.

Kit went down, and following treatment he took his place once more with his head heavily bandaged. One hopes he is all right to continue. A free kick to Norwich went well wide of the mark, a poor attempt by Easton, then Hayden cleared the danger when it looked as if Roberts might get free.

Three minutes of time was added for the first half injuries, though I would have thought that it might well have been more; but there was no further action, and the players trooped off, with Palace holding a well deserved lead.

Palace kicked off for the second half, and it was notable that Kit had removed his bandage; at least that augurs well. A cross in from Danny B was cleared only as far as Aki, but his shot went wide, and the Norwich fans breathed again. A pass into the centre by Adam Drury was cleared by Darren Powell, then Dele got the ball through to Tommy, his shot being tipped behind by the keeper for a corner. The corner was duly cleared, but Hayden pumped the ball forward again, and after beating the defence AJ shot wide when he only had the keeper to beat.

Norwich made a double substitution, replacing McVeigh and Roberts with Darren Nielsen and Zema Abbey, just as Malky Mackay was booked for a foul on Aki. A ball into the centre by Danny G was almost turned into his own net by Mackay, but the resulting corner was once again wasted, then Dele sent a shot just wide of the mark.

Tommy hit a shot well wide of the mark, with Gary Holt returning the compliment at the other end, as Norwich made their final substitution, bringing young striker Ian Henderson on for Easton. Palace made a substitution of their own, Julian Gray coming on for Dele, as Trevor Francis attempted to play a little more defensively, to protect the lead.

Tommy was booked for a foul on Mackay, but shortly after he was clear through on goal when the referee blew his whistle, to award Palace a free kick! This man was definitely whistle happy! Craig Fleming and Darren managed to get themselves booked in-between Danny G attempting a long range shot on goal that went just over the bar. Phillip Mulryne fired a wicked shot at goal that went just wide of the mark as Alex looked to be in a little trouble getting to the ball, and then Julian almost got to the ball at the other end, the defence just clearing the danger in time.

With three minutes once again added at the end Gareth Williams came on for Tommy, but without even managing to touch the ball the game was all over, and three more precious points had gone the way of the Eagles. Just as importantly that is now three games without conceding a goal, let's hope it continues against Sheffield United in the Cup on Tuesday night.

Colin Pryce

Crystal Palace: Alex Kolinko, Darren Powell, Tony Popovic (Shaun Derry 15), Kit Symons, Danny Granville, Danny Butterfield, Hayden Mullins, Aki Riihilahti, Tommy Black (Gareth Williams 90), Dele Adebola (Julian Gray 76), Andrew Johnson.

Substitutes not used: Gary Borrowdale, Nikolaos Michopoulos.

Norwich City: Robert Green, Darren Kenton, Malky Mackay, Craig Fleming, Adam Drury, Mark Rivers, Phillip Mulryne, Gary Holt, Clint Easton (Ian Henderson 72), Iwan Roberts (Zema Abbey 63), Paul McVeigh (Darren Nielsen 63).

Substitutes not used: Darel Russell, Arran Lee-Barrett.

Attendance: 16,791

Referee: Mr P Armstrong (Berkshire)