Walsall - 2 (Matias 83. Hall 90.)
Crystal Palace - 2 (Forssell 50. Mullins 67.)

With both sides desperate for the points, us to ensure Division One survival and Walsall in a last ditch attempt to get out of the relegation zone, this was always going to be a scrappy affair. Having both first choice keepers sidelined, us through injury and Walsall by suspension, also handicapped both sides.

The first half got underway, and for the first 10-15 minutes it looked as though neither side were going to make any real impression on goal. A corner taken by Craig Foster found Dean Austin, who managed to flick the ball on to Clinton Morrison, his attempt hitting the crossbar. Pedro Matias then put in a good cross, which Martin Ricketts put high over the bar. The next quarter of an hour saw little further attempts on goal, until Graham Fenton put in a good cross that Ricketts, with only Matthew Gregg to beat, headed wide.

The first half thus petered out with neither side looking exceptionally dangerous, and the draw that Steve Coppell would have gladly accepted before the match started, looked very much on the cards.

Whatever Steve said to the side during the break obviously had an effect, for Palace came out looking the far hungrier side. With only five minutes gone Ian Roper failed to mark Mikael Forssell, and in a flash he was on the ball. A low ball driven into the net gave Carl Emberson very little chance of even reacting. Matt was then called on to make an excellent save in the visitor's goal when Tom Bennett smashed a 25-yard drive straight at him. Clinton Morrison then went close, Emberson making almost an identical save. Shortly after though, it looked as if the game was all over when Hayden Mullins drove in a long-range effort after Foster's corner had only been partially cleared.

Two chances to the home side followed, with first Andy Rammell missing a cross from Mark Robins, and then Bennett seeing his shot tipped over the bar by young Gregg. Yet again Walsall pushed forward, and Matt pulled off a brilliant stop from an Adrian Viveash header.

Only 10 minutes left - Steve must have been relishing the three points instead of the one he said he would take!

Much to the horror of the visiting Palace faithful, the team then proceeded, for the second week in a row, to shoot themselves in the foot. With the game all but won, once again they let the lead slip. Matias saw his header hit the bar shortly before Rammell sent in a cross that he got on the end of, sending the ball just inside the post to pull one goal back.

Palace could still have sewn things up when Leon McKenzie made his way to goal from the right, then sent his shot wide of the mark. The game was all but over, surely?

A minute of injury time had passed when Walsall were awarded the last corner of the match, and Matias sent in the cross which Paul Hall smashed home to make the scores level.

With no time left on the clock, Palace once again found their lead squandered, and one can be sure that Coppell will be having stern words with the team members before the fixture at Selhurst Park next Saturday, when we entertain Birmingham City. They will not be as easy to score against!

Colin Pryce

Walsall: Carl Emberson, Ian Brightwell, Ian Roper, Adrian Viveash, Chris Marsh, Paul Hall, Tom Bennett, Michalis Vlachos (Dean Keates 62), Pedro Matias, Graham Fenton (Mark Robins 62), Michael Ricketts (Andy Rammell 45).

Substitutes not used: Darren Wrack, Tony Barras.

Crystal Palace: Matthew Gregg, Dean Austin, Andy Linighan, Fan Zhiyi (David Woozley 71), Ashley Cole, Jamie Smith, Hayden Mullins, Craig Foster (Steve Thomson 80), Clinton Morrison, Leon McKenzie, Mikael Forssell (Stephen Hunt 78).

Substitutes not used: Lee Kendall, Wayne Carlisle.

Attendance: 6,323

Referee: Mr J A Kirby (Sheffield).