Crystal Palace - 0
Sheffield United - 1 (Brown 60.)

Clinton Morrison got this match underway, and it was immediately noticeable that he was without strike partner Dougie Freedman, who was ruled out of the match with the flu. Trevor Francis still maintained his three-pronged attack though, employing Ade Akinbiyi and Jovan Kirovski in the other two roles. Robert Ullathorne had the first strike on goal, a long-range effort going wide of the mark, but later efforts from both sides never really looked like threatening either goal. Peter Ndlovu had the next pot-shot at goal, his effort going wide once more, as the Palace defence forced him also to strike from a fair distance.

Ade was caught offside from what looked a promising move then Jovan wasted a good chance to open the scoring, his shot tamely crossing the path of the goal, when it would have been so easy to make a simple pass to Clinton, who as usual was waiting right on the line for a straightforward tap-in. Paul Furlong attempted a shot from well out that Matt Clarke held on to easily, and then he made another good run on goal, only to be forced off the ball by a well drilled defence. Considering we were without a number of key players in defence they were certainly doing well to hold out the attacking moves of our visitors.

David Hopkin made a solo run on goal, beating three defenders before his shot was smothered by the defence, just as he was lining up one of his famous thunderbolts. Clinton got close to opening our account, just failing to get to a wonderful cross from Simon Rodger. Ade won a corner, but the referee got it wrong, albeit being way down the field he signified a goal kick, and that's the way the ruling stood. Clinton was caught easily offside before Ade hesitated over a shot that he really should have hit first time. When he did shoot the ball went tamely to Simon Tracey, who had little to do other than hang on the ball that popped straight into his hands.

Ade put in a good cross to Clinton, who could not get at the ball that stuck in the mud, and then a free kick to Palace was floated in by Jovan and Hayden Mullins rose, his header going marginally over the bar. Jovan nodded down a good ball for Clinton, but he totally miss-hit the shot, and the advantage was lost.

As the break approached Furlong nearly "stole" the lead, but Matt was alert in the Palace goal, and the scoreline remained 0-0. Michael Brown got a shot in on goal from a free kick, but the defence once again beat the ball down, and finally Palace made a good move forward, but Simon's cross went straight into touch, when all of our attackers were onside, and in place to take full advantage of a well-delivered pass. The break arrived without further ado, and the sides marched off, presumably for a hot drink on such a cold day.

United got the second half underway, and almost immediately Furlong, who had probably been the pick of the forwards in the first half, for both sides, took a snap shot at goal that nearly caught the defence out. Matt was well enough aware of the danger though, and he held on easily to the ball.

A number of moves, for both sides, came to naught before Brown slipped a shot into the side netting. Peter Ndlovu appealed for a penalty when he came down in the area, but the referee waved play-on.

Palace made two substitutions, bringing Julian Gray and Steve Thomson on for Jamie Smith and Simon Rodger, which immediately gave Palace the width of conventional wing players.

Jovan then managed to get ruled offside, and Julian was making good runs down the left channel, but suddenly calamity struck, or more correctly Brown did. He got free of the defence, and curled a long-range shot into the top of the net. 1-0.

Julian won a corner, which eventually resulted in three consecutive corners to the home side, all of which were really wasted. Julian again made his way into the box, but Ade was once more ruled offside. Julian's next foray found Jovan, but Tracey in goal easily dealt with his weak shot. A mad scramble in the United goal could still not force a goal for Palace, and as the side got more desperate it was looking extremely likely that United might make a second, and really kill the game off.

Patrick Suffo came on for Paul Peschisolido, and Tommy Black came on for Jovan, who was not having the best of days on the field. A free kick to United was well dealt with by Matt in goal, and then a free kick at the other end, taken by David Hopkin, went straight into the United wall. Ndlovu then missed a sitter when the ball bounced kindly for him. With only the keeper to beat he lost the opportunity, and Matt was relieved to hold on to the ball and keep the status quo.

A final chance for Palace was actually beaten by the referee's whistle, and though the team was given a poor reception by the fans, they saved their worst boos for Ade. In fairness to our new striker he received very poor service this afternoon, and along with most other real Palace fans, I feel it is ridiculous to give such a poor reception to a class player such as this. The man is Crystal Palace, and we need him to find confidence playing in the side. That a goal will help him, and hopefully still the critics, cannot be denied, but come on Palace fans, let's cheer him on, and let him know that whilst he wears the red and blue we are right behind him!

Colin Pryce

Crystal Palace: Matt Clarke, Jamie Smith (Julian Gray 56), Dean Austin, David Hopkin, Hayden Mullins, Simon Rodger (Steve Thomson 56), Clinton Morrison, Gregg Berhalter, Jovan Kirovski (Tommy Black 72), Curtis Fleming, Ade Akinbiyi.

Substitutes not used: Alex Kolinko, Andrew Frampton.

Sheffield United: Simon Tracey, Keith Curle, Michael Brown, Paul Peschisolido (Patrick Suffo 71), Bobby Ford, Peter Ndlovu (George Santos 87), Phil Jagielka, Paul Furlong (Laurent D'Jaffo 82), Robert Ullathorne, Gus Uhlenbeek, Robert Page.

Substitutes not used: Nick Montgomery, Colin Cryan.

Attendance: 18,009

Referee: Mr S G Tomlin (Lewes)