Norwich City - 2 (McVeigh 8. Roberts 86.)
Crystal Palace - 0

Andy Johnson and Shaun Derry kicked off this match, one that we somehow needed to at least get a point from to maintain our unbeaten record. That it was not to be became fairly obvious early on in the match. A free kick to Palace resulted in a corner that was very quickly wasted. Kit Symons cleared a dangerous ball for the home side, and at the other end Palace forced yet another corner, courtesy of Julian Gray. The ball came in from the corner, and Kit really should have done a little better, his header going over the top from not very far out.

Mark Rivers then fired a shot goalwards, but Nik Michopoulos managed to hang on to the ball. That was not to last for long though, and as Norwich moved forward again it was Paul McVeigh who was on hand to steer the ball low into the back of the goal, with Nik unable to make any ground to keep it out. Palace now looked to be a little brittle, and the ball kept coming, menacingly, into our area. To our credit the ball was beaten out a number of times, but Norwich were looking really on song.

Iwan Roberts was awarded a yellow card for a deliberate handball, but still the ball was pumped up into our area, and still we looked suspect at the back. Tommy Black then made a good run into the area, but he delayed his pass just a little too long for AJ to make any headway. A good shot from Adam Drury was just tipped behind by Nik, and once the corner came in Palace immediately broke clear, AJ being crudely brought down for his troubles. The free kick was well played on by Darren Powell, but the header from AJ went just wide of the post. Steve Thomson then managed to get booked for a late tackle, and Norwich won a corner with a good build up in the play. Darren was the player who rescued this situation for Palace, and play continued at a fairly hectic pace.

Another good build-up from Palace saw just one too many passes, the last one going astray before David Nielsen stumbled when clear through on goal. Craig Fleming was an early replacement for Norwich, Malky Mackay coming on in his stead. A free kick to Palace was cleared by Norwich, we forced another corner but Danny Granville hit the shot over the bar following a miss by Darren.

A corner to Norwich was cleared, but another corner was won, and as this was booted upfield it was Shaun who forced a corner at the other end. Julian managed to sky this one well over the crossbar. Once again the play started to become end-to-end stuff.

As half time approached a good shot from Nielsen was well held by Nik, and without much further action the half came to an end. We were one goal down, but things could have been much worse had it not been for some good touches by Nik in goal, which was equalled by a brilliant display from Robert Green at the other end.

Nielsen and Garry Holt got the second half proceedings underway, the first shot coming from Roberts, his shot going wide. Tommy forced an error from the keeper, the ball going behind for a corner, and Steve hit a shot way over the top of the bar. Steen Nedergaard won a free kick in a dangerous area, but Nik was on hand to save the dangerous ball that was headed goalwards by Mackay.

AJ nearly managed to get free, the ball just eluding him at the last moment, and then a free kick at the other end saw a blistering shot from Kenton going just inches wide of the upright. Another free kick to Norwich was curled just over the top by Philip Mulryne before yet another corner was wasted by Palace. Tommy was finally replaced by Gareth Williams in an attempt to change the play; could he perhaps score at the same ratio as he does in the reserves?

His first touch of the ball was an attempt to find AJ in the centre, but Andy was unable to make the distance to get to the ball. AJ did get a shot on goal shortly after this, but it was a long way over the top, and it was becoming obvious that not much was going right for Palace. Another corner to Palace was sent wide by Steve, whilst at the other end Nik had to make a fine save to deny Paul McVeigh, his shot looking destined for the back of the net before the keeper reacted.

Steve tried to make too much ground on his own, when Gareth was unmarked in the centre, and then Dele Adebola finally got a shot on goal, a reactive save by Green denying the big man an equaliser. A corner to Norwich was well beaten out by Nik, and Aki Riihilahti came on to replace Shaun. A long ball found Gareth, but his header went straight to the keeper, and Norwich made their second substitution, bringing Nicky Southall on to replace Rivers. His first touch of the ball almost led to a second goal for our hosts, a good cross finding Mulryne whose shot flew past the post.

Aki fired a long range shot at goal, but it went wide, and finally Roberts fired a shot that gave Nik no chance, the lead was doubled, and the game was all over bar the shouting. Palace won a corner in the dying moments, as both sides made substitutions, Palace to give Will Antwi a touch of the ball, and Norwich to simply try to slow the game down. They need not have bothered, this game was all over now.

With little further action the referee sounded time, and the players trooped off. Palace's unbeaten record had finished its' current run, and the team will now need to regroup to start off another good run commencing with Grimsby Town at Selhurst Park next week.

Colin Pryce

Norwich City: Robert Green, Adam Drury, Craig Fleming (Malky Mackay 31), Darren Kenton, Garry Holt, Philip Mulryne, Steen Nedergaard, Paul McVeigh, David Nielsen (Zema Abbey 89), Mark Rivers (Nicky Southall 84), Iwan Roberts.

Substitutes not used: Paul Crichton, Ian Henderson.

Crystal Palace: Nikolaos Michopoulos, Danny Granville, Darren Powell, Kit Symons (Will Antwi 90), Tommy Black (Gareth Williams 67), Danny Butterfield, Shaun Derry (Aki Riihilahti 82), Julian Gray, Steve Thomson, Dele Adebola, Andrew Johnson.

Substitutes not used: Gary Borrowdale, Alex Kolinko.

Attendance: 20,907

Referee: Mr E Wolstenholme (Lancashire)