Norwich City - 2 (Huckerby 38. Mackay 89.)
Crystal Palace - 1 (Derry 2.)

Norwich got this game underway, and the first action came almost immediately, as Darren Powell had to be alert to snuff out the danger as Gary Holt almost got clear on goal. Dougie Freedman then made a good run up the right hand side of the field, played the ball into the centre, and there was Shaun Derry who put a great long-range shot into the goal, and we were 1-0 up. Not bad for just over a minute of play!

Peter Crouch rose to flick on the ball (bound to really, isn't he, he must be at least 6' 13") then Andy Johnson ran at the defence, but the ball was cleared. Kevin Harper attempted a shot on goal that Cedric Berthelin did well to keep out, and then a cross into the centre by Danny Butterfield was equally well dealt with by Robert Green.

Palace broke clear, but the defence managed to avert the danger, even though we had more men in attack than they had in defence. Gary Borrowdale brought Harper down on the edge of the box, and was awarded a yellow card for his efforts, the free kick being wasted by the home side. Cedric easily held on to a ball sent in by Gary Holt, then Mark Edworthy (yes, another ex-Palace player) got round Gary but hit his cross too hard to worry the Palace defence.

Neil Shipperley headed the ball past the post before Darren was called on to defend once again, his header clearing the danger as Harper charged forward once more. Darren Huckerby found Crouch, his header going easily into Cedric's waiting arms, then at the other end Palace's claims for a penalty fell on deaf ears. Cedric pulled off another fine save, this time as Harper attempted a shot, then Hayden Mullins had to clear the danger as the Norwich forwards pressed more and more on our goal. Curtis Fleming had to be quick to clear the ball from the line as Crouch tried to force the ball home.

Cedric cut out a cross by Harper, before Curtis brought down Huckerby, gaining a yellow card for his troubles, along with Shaun for chatting to the referee. A penalty was awarded and Huckerby sent Cedric the wrong way, bringing the scores level; and whilst most Palace supporters will tell you it was never a penalty if we had been supporting the other side it was most certainly a penalty. Such is the game.

Huckerby was on hand to clear the danger at the other end, whilst Hayden was booked for dissent, along with Michael Hughes for the original foul, and AJ found his name in the book when he kicked the ball away, the ball being advanced 10 yards for the incident. Five players booked in a matter of a couple of minutes; the side would need to be careful for the rest of the match!

Michael was brought down, only for a free kick, without a booking, and the whistle finally sounded to signify half time. Palace would have felt aggrieved at the penalty incident, but the game was still there for the taking if we were good enough.

Palace got the second half underway but it was Huckerby that got the first shot on goal, his effort going well wide of the target. Cedric stopped a goalward bound shot from the same player before Shaun almost got a second on another cross from Dougie, a defender getting in the way at the last moment. Palace decided to make a change to the lineup, Gary giving way to Aki Riihilahti before Crouch sent a header wide at the danger end for Palace.

Shaun gave away a free kick for a foul on Damien Francis, and then Edworthy sent in a cross that Cedric did well to hang on to. Dougie almost got the ball through to Michael, who would have simply had to beat the keeper, but his pass was just a little astray, and the move broke down. Neil played a poor shot that trickled through to the keeper before Francis drove a shot wide of the post at the other end.

A corner to Norwich saw Huckerby head the ball goalwards, Cedric turning it to safety via the underside of the bar at the last moment and Norwich made a change to their line-up, Phillip Mulryne taking the place of Harper. Paul McVeigh found his name in the book for a foul on Danny, and then Mulryne got an early booking, this time for a foul on Shaun.

A free kick right in front to Palace was wasted, and then the action was all at the other end, as Norwich pushed for the winner. Palace eventually managed to clear their lines and win a corner, and Norwich made another change, this time Iwan Roberts taking the field in place of Crouch. Holt fired a shot well over the top of the bar.

Cedric made a good save from a shot by Roberts, but he was unable to prevent Malky Mackay getting in the way of a Mulryne shot, and the ball nestled in the back of the net. One minute to go, and once again Palace had fallen to a late strike. Dougie almost got a last gasp equaliser, his shot going just wide of the post, and with little further ado the whistle went for full time.

Palace had lost again, and Steve will be starting to wonder just what he has to do to get this team back on its' winning ways. Something will need to be sorted out very soon if he is going to take a winning team to Upton Park on Wednesday.

Colin Pryce

Norwich City: Robert Green, Mark Edworthy, Malky Mackay, Craig Fleming, Adam Drury, Kevin Harper (Phillip Mulryne 69), Damien Francis, Gary Holt, Paul McVeigh, Darren Huckerby, Peter Crouch (Iwan Roberts 84).

Substitutes not used: Joe Lewis, Ian Henderson, Clint Easton.

Crystal Palace: Cedric Berthelin, Hayden Mullins, Curtis Fleming, Darren Powell, Danny Butterfield, Shaun Derry, Michael Hughes, Gary Borrowdale (Aki Riihilahti 50), Dougie Freedman, Andrew Johnson, Neil Shipperley.

Substitutes not used: Lance Cronin, Kit Symons, Gareth Williams, Wayne Routledge.

Attendance: 16,425

Referee: Mr B Curson