Machester City - 3 (Wright-Phillips 12. 90. Fowler 15.)
Crystal Palace - 1 (Powell 32.)

It was always going to prove difficult if we really expected to get anything out of this match, and as things happened that proved to be the case. The match was not as bad as the scoreline indicates, and we can look forward with confidence to the rest of the matches to come this season, and those of next season, when once again Palace will take their place in the Premiership.

The first shot on goal in this match came from Antoine Sibierski, his attempt going wide of the upright, and shortly after Andy Johnson saw his shot punched away by David James in the home goal, at the expense of a corner. Wayne Routledge played this in, but Sibierski was again on hand to avert the danger.

The dangerous Shaun Wright-Phillips saw his shot go wide, leaving Gabor Kiraly the simple task of taking a goal kick, though a corner followed shortly after, which was wasted by City.

Jonathan Macken then played the ball into the centre, and it was Wright-Phillips who was on hand to push the ball into the bottom corner of the goal to open the scoring for the afternoon. Worse was to follow though, as only a few minutes later Richard Dunne played the ball in and Robbie Fowler stroked the ball into the back of the net before Gabor had a chance to react.

Two goals down, and only 15 minutes gone; Palace were going to need to go into damage control if things were not to get too far out of hand.

A few niggling fouls followed from both sides until Danny Mills tried a shot that Gabor tipped around the edge of the post, conceding a corner. Fowler sent that in, and Darren Powell was on hand to make the clearance before Dunne fouled Fitz Hall to relieve the pressure on our goal; Gabor taking the free kick. Fowler tried another shot, that also went for a corner as Gabor effected the clearance, and though that was saved it was again Fowler who sent in another chance, this time Gabor doing well to hang on to the ball.

Fowler sent in another corner that Fitz dealt with, and then Macken tried a shot that was well beaten away by our ever-alert keeper. Fowler was caught offside before AJ tried a shot that went for a corner. This was fired in by Wayne but blocked by Dunne, with Sylvain Distin finally making the clearance.

Dunne then fouled AJ, and as Wayne played in the free kick it was Darren who was well positioned to head the ball into the bottom corner of the net from about 5 yards out to peg back the difference just a little. Macken tried a shot at the other end that went wide of the mark and then Fowler tried a shot that went for a corner, the clearance this time coming from Fitz. AJ was caught offside before he managed a shot at goal, which went wide before a corner to City saw Sibierski send his shot over the top of the bar.

We then entered added on time, though there was little further action, and the troops walked off for the usual pep talks from their respective managers.

At the start of the second half both sides made a change, with Sibierski being replaced by Steve McManaman and Ben Watson making way for Wayne Andrews. Wright-Phillips saw his shot miss the right hand upright before a corner to Palace had Darren sending his header over the top of the bar.

Fowler played the ball back into our area, but Gabor plucked the ball out of the air and then Mikele Leigertwood saw his shot go wide of the mark once again. Palace then decided to make another change, this time bringing on Gary Borrowdale for Vassilios Lakis, who had been having a fairly quiet game, at least by his standards.

Macken saw his shot saved by Gabor before Gary had a shot that missed the left hand upright. Wayne R sent in a corner that James had to punch away before Dunne was booked for a foul on AJ, the free kick being wasted by Palace. Joey Barton cleared another corner to Palace, and then Fowler had a shot that was again saved by Gabor. Fowler was then caught offside before City made their second change, taking off Macken and bringing on Bradley Wright-Phillips.

The senior Wright-Phillips was caught offside as Palace made their final change, replacing Wayne R with Neil Shipperley before Bradley Wright-Phillips saw his shot go wide of the mark again. Mikele was booked for a foul on Barton, and then a corner to the home side was played far too short, and we were still a chance to get something out of the game.

Of course, it was not to be. Shaun Wright-Phillips got on the end of a Fowler ball and simply assisted the ball into the back of the net to seal a well-deserved victory, and a double to City over Palace for the season. At the last moment Barton was booked for a foul on Gonzalo Sorondo, and Fowler was replaced by Nedum Onuoha, but there was to be no reprieve for Palace, and the final whistle sounded to bring to an end a miserable day for the faithful Palace travelling fans.

It will now be back to the drawing board for Iain Dowie, and we will need him to come up with a plan to take some points from Spurs next Saturday. I'm glad it's his job, and not mine!

Colin Pryce

Manchester City: David James, Danny Mills, Sylvain Distin, Richard Dunne, Ben Thatcher, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Joey Barton, Paul Bosvelt, Antoine Sibierski (Steve McManaman 46), Robbie Fowler (Nedum Onuoha 90), Jonathan Macken (Bradley Wright-Phillips 72).

Substitutes not used: Ronald Waterreus, Stephen Jordan.

Crystal Palace: Gabor Kiraly, Emmerson Boyce, Fitz Hall, Danny Powell, Gonzalo Sorondo, Wayne Routledge (Neil Shipperley 77), Mikele Leigertwood, Ben Watson (Wayne Andrews 46), Tom Soares, Vassilios Lakis (Gary Borrowdale 61), Andrew Johnson.

Substitutes not used: Julian Speroni, Danny Butterfield.

Attendance: 44,010

Referee: Mr A Marriner