Crystal Palace - 0
Rotherham United - 0

This game ushered in a new era for Crystal Palace, with Steve Kember and Terry Bullivant in charge of first team affairs following the sudden departure of Trevor Francis yesterday. Many of the fans turned up expecting to see changes to the style of play, but Steve was never going to open the floodgates to the Juniors, as the first thing he would want to ensure was that the side was not unduly embarrassed. Let the action begin!

Steve made an entrance to loud cheers from the assembled crowd, and Rotherham got the match underway, and nearly scored in the first few moments as Alan Lee saw his shot on goal hit the woodwork and bounce, safely, away. Shaun Barker played the ball back into the box, but Hayden Mullins got the ball clear of our danger area, and as the ball came back once again to our end Kit Symons forced it clear, albeit at the expense of a corner. John Mullin sent the ball in from the corner, and Richard Barker sent his header wide.

Alex Kolinko did well to snuff out the danger as R Barker got close, and then Lee got a cross into the box, Hayden nearly putting the ball into his own net as he desperately cleared once more. Alex punched the ball clear before Julian Gray did well to send Gary Borrowdale up the field, a corner to Palace resulting. Julian sent the cross in, Kit getting to the ball, his header flying over the top of the bar. Dele Adebola was the next to try his luck as he got a shot on goal, the keeper showing good reflexes to tip the ball over the top of the crossbar.

Julian was then brought down on the edge of the area, Ben Watson firing in the free kick that was cleared by the defence. In a repeat performance Dele was brought down in the same area, and this time Ben got his shot on target, the keeper once more managing to send the ball safely round the corner of the post. The corner led to a free kick to Rotherham, and the spell of pressure from Palace was momentarily over.

Shaun Derry was the next to fire the ball into the area, Dougie Freedman just putting his shot wide, and the next chance was just out of the reach of Julian. Danny Butterfield then fired a cross in that Julian met perfectly, the ball settling neatly in the back of the net. Before the crowd could really start to cheer though the offside flag was noticed, and the "goal" was ruled out.

Another corner to Palace was wasted, followed by a free kick to our visitors, Kit dealing adequately with the danger. Julian was then penalised for kicking Lee; the fact that Lee was holding on to him by the neck found little sympathy from the referee; but Gary dealt with the cross in, and the first half was rapidly coming to an end. With little further action the two minutes of added on time came to an end, and the players trooped off for their half-time pep talks.

Palace got the second half underway, and the keeper easily caught a shot fired in by Danny. Danger at our end was averted by Darren Powell before Ben fired a cross in that Dougie just failed to get to. Julian won a corner, but before it could be taken Steve decided it was time for a change, and Tommy Black came on in place of Gary. Julian's shot from the corner, once it was finally taken, was blocked by the defence, and shortly after Dele was hauled down by Martin McIntosh, the Rotherham man getting a yellow card for his trouble.

A late tackle on Danny by R Barker saw the second yellow of the afternoon, and Rotherham made a change of their own, Stewart Talbot replacing Chris Sedgwick. At the same time Kit was replaced by Danny Granville, and shortly after the crowd witnessed a strange decision by the referee. Ian Gray brought Dele down outside the area, and somehow the ref decided to simply show the keeper a yellow card; surely most would have sent him straight off?

The free kick was fired straight into the defensive wall by Danny G, then a cross fired in by Tommy just eluded Julian, his effort passing weakly past the post. With Dele still limping following his run-in with the keeper we made our final substitution, Wayne Routledge taking his place on the field. Rotherham made their second, and what turned out to be their final, change of the afternoon, replacing R Barker with Darren Byfield. Darren saw off a chance from Mullin, the ball going out for a corner that the visitors put straight out of play, and then Tommy found himself one-on-one with the keeper, and somehow managed to put his shot wide of the post.

Despite three minutes of added-on time the match came to a tame end, and though we had failed to score the defence had done a more than adequate job for the afternoon. Someone surely should have scored on the day, but it is a little debatable just which side they might have been playing for. Steve and Terry will be looking for an improvement in the general state of play come the game on Monday away to Millwall at the New Den.

Colin Pryce

Crystal Palace: Alex Kolinko, Darren Powell, Kit Symons (Danny Granville 67), Hayden Mullins, Gary Borrowdale (Tommy Black 56), Danny Butterfield, Ben Watson, Shaun Derry, Julian Gray, Dele Adebola (Wayne Routledge 80), Dougie Freedman.

Substitutes not used: Cedric Berthelin, Steve Thomson.

Rotherham United: Ian Gray, Shaun Barker, Chris Swailes, Guy Branston, Martin McIntosh, Chris Sedgwick (Stewart Talbot 67), Nicholas Daws, John Mullin, Paul Hurst, Alan Lee, Richard Barker (Darren Byfield 83).

Substitutes not used: Mark Robins, Paul Warne, Danny Hudson.

Attendance: 15,508

Referee: Mr C Webster (Tyne & Wear)