Crystal Palace - 1 (Morrison 11.)
Swindon Town - 2 (Grazioli 32. Onuora 50.)

Having lost both the home and away games to Swindon last season, Palace went in to this match a little wary, but with the knowledge that they were riding high at the start of the new term. To really help make them nervous, Swindon had just lost a match 4-1 to current League leaders Ipswich Town, which meant that they had a whole lot more to prove.

The game got underway, and not too far into the match things started to look as though they may well go our way once more. Jamie Smith put in a great cross to Clinton Morrison who, from well out, fired the ball over the head of Frank Talia, the ball settling into the top left corner of the goal. One up, and a long time left to stretch our lead. Swindon, unfortunately, had not read our script, and it was the visitors that looked to be more in control of the match. Good work by both Bobby Howe and ex-Eagle George Ndah saw Palace struggling to get any share of the ball. Good efforts from Howe and Giuliano Grazioli were wasted before Iffy Onuora wasted his own double chance to bring the scores back level. It was not long though before the Robins did manage to get the match back on a level footing. Mark Walters sent in the cross and though both Grazioli and Onuora missed shots at goal it was Grazioli who made it third time lucky, forcing the ball over the line. The scores were now level, yet still it was the visitors who were pressing.

No real chances fell the way of the Eagles for the remainder of the half, and though Walters and Howe both went close the score remained 1-1 at half time.

Within five minutes of the restart Palace found themselves suddenly a goal down. Grazioli sent his shot wide but Onuora was on hand at the far post to force the ball past Fraser Digby. Though not the most convincing goal they all count!

At last Palace woke up, realising that if they wanted to get anything out of this game they needed to score goals. Close attempts from substitute Matthias Svensson and Hayden Mullins really should have brought a better reward, and Simon Rodger shot wide of the mark.

Swindon should have killed the game off ten minutes from the end when Chris Hay, faced with an open goal, somehow managed to send his shot wide, but the effort was not required as the match finished 2-1 to the visitors.

Steve Coppell was furious with the team after the match for failing to capitalise on their lead, accusing them of taking "their foot off the pedal".

Colin Pryce

Crystal Palace: Fraser Digby, Jamie Smith, Dean Austin, David Woozley (Andrew Harris 81), Andy Linighan, Andrew Frampton (Nick Rizzo 66), Steve Thomson (Matthias Svensson 58), Hayden Mullins, Simon Rodger, Clinton Morrison, Lee Bradbury.

Substitutes not used: Wayne Carlisle, Matthew Gregg.

Swindon Town: Frank Talia, Mark Robinson, Gareth Hall, Gareth Davies, Alan Reeves, Solomon Davis, Bobby Howe, George Ndah, Mark Walters, Iffy Onuora, Giuliano Grazioli (Chris Hay 77).

Substitutes not used: Jimmy Glass, ? Willis, Robin Hulbert, James Williams.

Attendance: 12,726

Referee: Mr A.N. Butler (Sutton-In-Ashfield).