Crystal Palace - 0
Fulham - 2 (Boa Morte 14. 69.)

Despite the obvious change to the starting line-up with the inclusion on new signing David Hopkin, the team once again failed to score, and they now find themselves uncomfortably close to the relegation zone. Something will certainly have to be done soon, though just what that is I have no idea. Perhaps that is why I am not the manager of the side, though somehow the tide of opinion is gradually turning against Alan Smith. As to the rights and wrongs of changing the manager at this stage of the season I really am not going to comment, though I would be very surprised if we see a change in the management team before the end of this term.

Having lost our last five games in a row we could hardly have picked a tougher fixture to try to turn things around. The runaway League leaders will always be a hard match, though we really could have picked a better time to meet them. Not that we ever get a say in these matters.

The opening of this match saw Mikael Forssell and Dougie Freedman both go close, but at the other end Lee Clark and John Collins also missed their chances. The opening goal was not much longer in coming though, and at 15 minutes a cross from Bjarne Goldbaek found Luis Boa Morte well placed to take a shot at goal. Despite the fact that Alex Kolinko managed to get a hand to the ball there was too much power in the shot, and it duly ended up in the back of the net.

Palace did not seem to let this setback get them down though, and they still managed to get forward in numbers. Simon Rodger was presented with the next chance to get the goal back, but his shot was poorly placed, and went wide of the mark. A corner shortly after, taken by Rodger, swung in, but the ball was cleared off the line by Boa Morte. Toward the end of the half Rufus Brevett took a throw-in that Boa Morte should have done more with, but his shot was well taken by Alex. So, it was 0-1 at half time.

The second half really only produced more of the same, and seemed to be acted out to the same script. Despite pressure from the Eagles it was a good pass from Steve Finnan that found the defence wanting, and once again it was Boa Morte that managed to get on to the ball first. His shot went straight into the top corner of the net, and suddenly the score was doubled, and we were really no longer in the match.

We did manage to get a couple of shots in on goal, though we never seemed destined to score. Hayden Mullins sent a shot marginally wide of the post, and then Simon hit the post. The substitutions of the two strikers seemed to make little or no difference to the side, and indeed the home fans were incensed that Dougie was taken off. David Hopkin seemed to have a reasonable debut on his return to the Palace colours, and once he settles into the side we could see good things from him.

Here's hoping that with the two week break Alan now has time to settle the team down, and we can once again start drawing away from the relegation zone.

Colin Pryce

Crystal Palace: Alex Kolinko, Matthew Upson, Dean Austin, Hayden Mullins, Simon Rodger, Dougie Freedman (Clinton Morrison 76), Tommy Black, Mikael Forssell (Ricardo Fuller 76), Andrew Frampton, Andrejs Rubins, David Hopkin.

Substitutes not used: Steve Thomson, Wayne Carlisle, Gregg Berhalter.

Fulham: Maik Taylor, Steve Finnan, Rufus Brevett, Andy Melville, Kit Symons, Lee Clark, John Collins (Alan Neilson 87), Barry Hayles (Louis Saha 62), Bjarne Goldbaek, Luis Boa Morte, Sean Davis.

Substitutes not used: Marcus Hahnemann, Karl-Heinz Riedle, Andrejs Stolcers.

Attendance: 21,133

Referee: Mr D Gallagher (Banbury)