Crystal Palace - 0
Charlton Athletic - 1 (Kitson 82.)

To take the points from a visiting team that was leading the League by 13 points was always going to be hard for Palace, and though it proved that way the team did very well to hold Charlton for such a long period of the game.

A torrential downpour an hour or so before the match, and intermittent rain and hail during the game, made life difficult for both teams.

The first 20 minutes or so really belonged to the visitors, though Palace gradually clawed their way back into the match. John Robinson sent in the first shot, though it went straight to Fraser Digby in goal. Carl Tiler then headed the ball goalwards, but once again Fraser was in the right position to affect the save. A shot from Shaun Newton finally evaded the keeper, but Hayden Mullins managed to clear the danger before Palace hit back.

Leon McKenzie blazed his shot over the bar, and then Dean Austin headed the ball straight to Dean Kiely in goal.

Without any other clear chances both sides trooped off, and Palace would have been happy with their first half effort.

The second period of play saw Charlton once again take the initiative. Robinson saw his cross cleared by Fan Zhiyi before Matthias Svensson and Andy Hunt both missed with perfect opportunities.

Entering the last 10 minutes of play the home crowd were starting to imagine that, just maybe, they could salvage a point out of the match. Two minutes later though, their hopes were dashed when Chris Powell crossed the ball and substitute Paul Kitson, on loan from West Ham, had the easiest of tasks to tap the ball home.

The final minutes ticked by without further ado, and though the result was not what the Palace faithful would have wished for, it was an indication that there is really not so much difference between the top of the League and the Palace team at the moment. We move on to Craven Cottage safe in the knowledge that we should be able to match any team in this League.

Colin Pryce

Crystal Palace: Fraser Digby, Dean Austin, Fan Zhiyi, Andy Linighan, Ashley Cole, Clinton Morrison, Hayden Mullins, Steve Thomson (Craig Foster 60), Wayne Carlisle (Andrew Martin 84), Leon McKenzie, Mikael Forssell.

Substitutes not used: David Woozley, Matthew Gregg, Stephen Hunt.

Charlton Athletic: Dean Kiely, Anthony Barness, Carl Tiler, Simon Rufus, Chris Powell, Shaun Newton (John Salako 75), Mark Kinsella, Graham Stuart, John Robinson (Paul Konchesky 84), Andy Hunt (Paul Kitson 75), Matthias Svensson.

Substitutes not used: Scott Parker, Simon Royce.

Attendance: 22,577

Referee: Mr C Foy (St. Helens).