Crystal Palace - 0
Swindon Town - 1

Well, eventually the bubble burst. After 10 matches without a defeat we finally crashed back down to earth, not only losing our unbeaten sequence but also losing our enviable record of not having been defeated at home since September of last year. The result leaves us in that nether world where, with three games remaining in the season, we can neither make the playoffs nor can we end up in the relegation zone. In fairness, even if we had won this match we still could not have made the playoffs, we would still have been too far behind.

So what do we look forward to from here?

I guess the only point to the season now is to acquit ourselves with as much dignity as we can, then we all have to keep our fingers crossed and see what comes of the current period of administration, which may well determine where we may play next season. Another point of interest will be to see who goes up to the Premiership, and who comes down; and indeed who come up from Division 2 and who goes down at that end of our table.

Assuming that we get through the period of administration intact, in other words we stay in Division One, then the next matter of interest will be to see how the side manages to line up come the start of the new year. Will we manage to hang on to the current squad? Will we get some of the players back that we have loaned out? Or will they be sold? Will we be able to afford to get them back? Will we be able to afford any new players? All will be revealed as the close season progresses, I guess. It should certainly make for an interesting few months for Palace supporters as we look forward to the new season!

This match kicked off, and although the news is very sparse, listening to comments being made on the match it appeared that Palace were making all the play, the perennial problem being that they were unable to put the ball in the back of the net. In the early exchanges Clinton Morrison came close to opening the scoring, then Sun Jihai could not control a half chance to put us in the lead. The 12th minute saw Clinton hit the post, but the ball would not roll the right way, and it was eventually cleared off the line. A scare then ensued for the home side when Iffy Onuora headed the ball into the path of Shane Bradley, but his point blank shot was directed straight at Kevin Miller, who did well to hang on to it at the first attempt. Craig Foster then hit the ball over the bar, and the first half rapidly drew to a close.

The second half started the same, though still we were unable to find that extra bit of effort to give us a chance of keeping the three points. Swindon seemed content to soak up the pressure and hit us on the break, and in the 51st minute our old favourite George Ndah made a great run down the sideline, crossed the ball into the square, and Onuora was on hand to simply place the ball in the back of the net from just 5 yards out. Although Palace applied even more pressure it was only Morrison that came close to pulling one back, his shot skimming over the top of the bar. Ndah and Onuora had further chances to extend the visitors lead, but good defending and keeping kept them out.

This match can probably best be described in a statistical frame. There was only one goal scored, there were only three corners to each side, and the chances were few and far between regarding shots on goal. Palace looked impressive in all departments, other than what they are really there to do. Put the ball in the back of the opposition's net!

Next week we travel to Watford. It promises to be a cracker of a game, as Watford still have a reasonable chance of making the playoffs. Unfortunately we do not, but I wouldn't mind betting that Steve Coppell will be keen to upset the apple cart, and make life as difficult as possible for them.

Colin Pryce

Crystal Palace: Kevin Miller, Sun Jihai, Gordan Petric, Dean Austin, Sagi Burton (Matthias Svensson 55, Wayne Carlisle 72) Steve Thomson, Craig Foster, Andrew Frampton, Leon McKenzie, Clinton Morrison, Hayden Mullins.
Not Used: Richard Harris.

Swindon Town: Frank Talia, Des Linton, Gareth Davies (Mark Robinson 29), Chris Hay (Mark Walters 76), Gareth Hall, Brian Borrows, Steve Howe, George Ndah, Iffy Onuora, Shane Bradley (Kevin Watson 26), Ty Gooden.
Not Used: None.

Attendance: 18,660
Referee: Mr M R Dean (Wirral).