Crystal Palace - 1 (Svensson 90.)
Norwich City - 0

Norwich arrived at Selhurst Park boasting an unbeaten record in their last eight games, with six clean sheets in those eight games. By comparison Palace "boasted" one of the worst defensive records in the League, but as in all these cases what has gone before counts for very little, it is the game, on the night, that matters to those that turn up for the match.

The first chance of the match went to Fan Zhiyi, his shot from 20 yards going wide of the mark, and three minutes later Matthias Svensson had a shot on goal that was well blocked by the defence. Only five minutes gone, two wasted chances, perhaps things were going to get better for the side tonight? Unfortunately Norwich then realised that they had a game on their hands. Daryl Sutch sent in a great corner that was met by Shaun Carey, his shot going just wide of the post. A free kick taken by Simon Rodger sailed over the crossbar after taking a deflection off one of the defending Canaries side, but the best chance of the half fell to Leon McKenzie when he took advantage of a defensive error, and with only the keeper to beat he somehow managed to put his shot well wide of the mark.

To add insult to injury Andy Linighan was forced off the field right on half time when a clash of heads left him with a broken nose, and thus somewhat doubtful for the next few matches.

The second half contained about as much action as the first, namely not a great deal. McKenzie had a chance not too far into the second period of play, but his shot, with only the keeper, Andy Marshall, to beat once again, this time finished with a weak shot that the custodian saved easily.

Shaun Carey had another chance to take the lead, but his two chances amounted to about the sum total of the visitors shots on goal.

Time was running out for both sides, and, in injury time, just as it looked as though both would have to settle for a point Simon Rodger found Terry Phelan who took the ball well into the visitors danger area. Terry's pass was perfect for a low diving Matthias to head the ball past a despairing keeper, and the three points were safely in the bag. If Steve Coppell cannot sign Terry to a more permanent deal we will miss him sorely, as this will be the last match he plays before returning to Everton.

Despite this Steve will have been very happy to picked up the maximum points which have helped pull the side further away from the relegation zone. Another performance such as this against Nottingham Forest on Saturday will bring us back to a reasonably comfortable mid-table position, from where we can launch a steady attack on a promotion spot.

Colin Pryce

Crystal Palace: Fraser Digby, Dean Austin, Hayden Mullins, Fan Zhiyi, Craig Foster, Matthias Svensson, Andy Linighan (David Woozley 45), Leon McKenzie (Fernando De Ornelas 69), Andrew Martin (Wayne Carlisle 62), Simon Rodger, Terry Phelan.

Substitutes not used: Nick Rizzo, Matthew Gregg.

Norwich City: Andy Marshall, Daryl Sutch, Craig Fleming, Matt Jackson, Iwan Roberts, Darel Russell, Paul Dalglish (Adrian Forbes 69), Shaun Carey, Darren Kenton, Mike Milligan (Chris Llewellyn 90), Jean Yves de Blasiis.

Substitutes not used: Cédric Anselin, Robert Green, Malky Mackay.

Attendance: 12,110

Referee: K. Hill (Royston).