Crystal Palace - 0
Bradford City - 1 (Branch 41.)

In a must win match Palace kicked off, and it was Danny Butterfield that put in the first cross that found Neil Shipperley, who really should have done better with a free header close to the line, which was guided the wrong side of the post. Nicky Summerbee was caught offside, then Tommy Black fired in a cross as Andy Johnson made a good run, the defence just beating him to the ball, conceding a corner in the process. From the corner Tommy steered the ball just wide of the post, and shortly after another corner to Palace saw Tony Popovic repeat the feat - three out of three chances wasted.

Neil got the ball in good position, but his shot was well held by the keeper, but it was notable that Bradford really had seen very little of the ball. David Wetherall was booked for a foul on AJ, and Shaun Derry took the free kick, once again picking out Neil, his attempt being well cleared by the defence. Lewis Emanuel was found to be offside, but shortly after Shaun fouled Paul Evans, and gave away the advantage we had built up. Wetherall returned the compliment, barging into AJ, but Michael Hughes wasted the free kick, hitting his shot straight at the defensive wall.

Palace won a corner that was easily cleared by the Bradford defence before Evans messed up a shot that he really should have done better with, his attempt going wide of the mark when the whole goal was open to him. Neil tried a long range shot that was deflected behind for a corner, the result being that Neil headed the ball across the goal when he really should have gone for goal, then Dean Windass got a shot on goal that Cedric Berthelin did well to take cleanly.

Tony fired a good cross in to AJ, who turned and made a snap shot that just missed the target before Tommy managed a cross into the centre, with no Palace player anywhere near the ball. Evans then tried a shot, and as Cedric failed to hold on to the ball Michael Branch buried it into the back of the net. Somewhat against the run of play we suddenly found ourselves one goal down, half time upon us, and all the work to do.

Danny fired a shot from long range that was easily held by Marlon Beresford in the visitors goal, and the half time whistle sounded and the teams trooped off, presumably to different pep talks from their respective managers. To say that Steve Kember would be less than pleased might be to understate matters somewhat!

Bradford got the second stanza underway and the first action saw Branch tear down the wing and fire a cross in to Evans, who really should have scored, and would have done had it not been for a tremendous reactive save by Cedric.

Branch then fired a shot on goal that went wide of the post, and finally Palace started to make their way up to the other end of the park. In an attacking move Curtis Fleming gave way to Wayne Routledge, but it was Hayden Mullins who had to react fast to keep Summerbee out of the danger area.

AJ then fired a shot over the top of the bar, and shortly after Danny fired another long range shot that the keeper dealt with easily. Neil and AJ both shot wide, then Branch lifted the ball over the top and Tommy fired the ball wide once more.

Jamie Smith got a yellow card for a poor tackle, but was immediately replaced by Gary Borrowdale. Tommy then beat a host of players before playing the ball in to AJ, who could only hit the legs of the keeper when he should have buried the ball in the back of the net.

Bradford took the lull in proceedings as an opportunity to replace Windass with Kevin Sanasy, and Tony got booked for a tackle on Branch.

Gary put a shot over the top of the bar, and a free kick to Palace as Wetherall brought down Neil resulted in Shaun firing the ball once again over the top, and the chances were being wasted as fast as they were being created. Evans saw a shot well saved by Cedric, and Ben Watson came on to replace Shaun. Tony saw his shot blocked, and Ben, with his first touch, should really have scored from the rebound, the defence just managing to scramble the ball clear.

Tommy then hit the side netting instead of the target and AJ headed the ball wide of the post, and despite four minutes of added on time Palace came no closer to scoring, and for the first time this season boos were heard around Selhurst Park. Let's hope that is not a regular occurrence this season, we all need to get behind the team - surely by now we are used to the vagaries of this game, particularly where Palace are concerned!

On Saturday we entertain League leaders West Bromwich Albion - we will need to be at our best to take at least a point off of them!

Colin Pryce

Crystal Palace: Cedric Berthelin, Curtis Fleming (Wayne Routledge 52), Tony Popovic, Hayden Mullins, Danny Butterfield, Michael Hughes, Shaun Derry (Ben Watson 83), Tommy Black, Jamie Smith (Gary Borrowdale 69), Andrew Johnson, Neil Shipperley.

Substitutes not used: Lance Cronin, Kit Symons.

Bradford City: Marlon Beresford, Simon Francis, Jason Gavin, David Wetherall, Lewis Emanuel, Nicky Summerbee, Paul Evans, Dean Windass (Kevin Sanasy 72), Paul Heckingbottom, Michael Branch, Andy Gray.

Substitutes not used: Luke Cornwall, Ben Muirhead, Danny Forrest, Michael Standing.

Attendance: 13,514

Referee: Mr T Parkes