Crewe Alexandra - 1 (Little 41.)
Crystal Palace - 1 (Freedman 80.)

Crystal Palace entered this match as favourite, at least with the bookies, to win, whilst the draw was the rank outsider. The difficulties we put in our own road nearly cost us the game, but the fighting spirit of the side saw them come back to wrest a point for the homeward journey.

The match got underway in a sensational manner when a clash of heads saw Steve MacAuley and Kenny Lunt both go down. Although Lunt carried on MacAuley was stretchered off and took no further part in the match. Palace then flexed their muscles a little, Jason Kearton doing well to push a shot from Jamie Pollock around the post. The resulting corner saw Fan Zhiyi outjump the defence, but Lunt was on the line to clear the danger.

The match continued, but at about the 25-minute mark Rob Hulse did well to make his way into the box, where he was adjudged to have been tripped by Hayden Mullins. The referee had no hesitation awarding a penalty, and though Shaun Smith let fly a great shot from the spot Alex Kolinko was equal to the task, diving to his left to push the ball onto the bar.

Neil Ruddock took exception to the awarding of the penalty, and this was to eventually bring him undone, and cause Palace a lot of problems in the second half.

Shortly after the penalty Alex was once more called into action, this time diving at the feet of Colin Cramb. Though his block saved the day Palace were lucky when the ball fell to Neil Sorvel, who chipped the ball over the keepers head but hit the bar of an open goal. There was nothing he could do about the goal that eventually came on 41 minutes, when Lunt sent a free kick into the area and Colin Little got over the top of Fan and headed the ball firmly into the back of the net. To add to our woes, Neil was still complaining about the awarding of the penalty some 15 minutes earlier, and the referee showed him a red card, leaving Palace to play the whole of the second half with only 10 men.

Following the break Alan Smith chose to play with only three men in defence, and this invited raid after raid from the home side. They nearly doubled their lead when Mark Rivers fired his shot just wide of the mark, though Palace were starting to hit them on the break. Dean Austin nearly headed us level, but once again it was Lunt on the line that saved the day. We were not going to give away our recent unbeaten run that easily.

Dougie received the ball, and getting the better of Efe Sodje he moved on goal before firing in a great shot that left Kearton stranded. Against all odds we were back on level terms, and try as Crewe might they could find no way through the resolute Palace defence for the final 10 minutes of the game.

Following the match Alan Smith was obviously delighted with the point that was well deserved by the side, and the fact that our unbeaten run now extends to 11 games. It will be interesting to hear what he has to say later about Neil's dismissal, one can be sure that he will not be well pleased.

Roll on Sunderland!

Colin Pryce

Crewe Alexandra: Jason Kearton, David Wright, Stephen Foster, Efe Sodje, Steve MacAuley (Shaun Smith 2), Kenny Lunt, Neil Sorvel, Colin Little, Colin Cramb, Rob Hulse (Peter Smith 82), Mark Rivers.

Substitutes not used: Ademole Bankole, James Collins, Paul Tait.

Crystal Palace: Alex Kolinko, Jamie Smith, Dean Austin, Fan Zhiyi, Neil Ruddock, Hayden Mullins, Clinton Morrison, Tommy Black, Mikael Forssell (Dougie Freedman 57), Jamie Pollock, Craig Harrison (Simon Rodger 58).

Substitutes not used: Steve Thomson, Wayne Carlisle, Stephen Kabba.

Attendance: 5,752

Referee: Mr M Dean (The Wirral).