Crystal Palace - 0
Wolverhampton Wanderers - 2 (Sinton 16. Proudlock 49.)

Crystal Palace took an inexorable step towards the chasm that is known as the relegation zone with this inept performance. It seems that our strikers no longer know how to put the ball in the back of the net, and our defence is panicking every time the ball gets in our own half of the field. With only two games to play, those perennial "must win" games, it appears that all but a mathematical chance has now gone for the team that we all hold so dear to our hearts. It seems inevitable that Alan Smith will now be removed from the helm at the end of the season, but somewhat unlikely that he will choose to go now, and maybe put Terry Bullivant in charge for these last two games. As to who Simon Jordan may be able to attract to lead the team in the lower division I guess that will be resolved during the off-season.

Talking of mathematics only Portsmouth, Huddersfield and Grimsby remain as candidates to take our place, and if you really want to clutch at straws Gillingham are being looked at over alleged financial matters and could be dropped from Division One. The most likely "penalty" for them is the loss of; say 9 points, which will still leave them above the table to us. Our current rate of scoring points would still leave us little chance of catching them!

This match kicked off in fine conditions, but ended in the pouring rain. It seemed even the weather wanted to be as bleak as the Palace supporters felt.

Within the first couple of minutes Aki Riihilahti let leash a shot that Michael Oakes did well to save, then Clinton Morrison saw his shot put behind for a corner. A cross from Michael Branch flew clear of the attacking strikers, but Branch tried again and found Temuri Ketsbaia who was well tackled by Craig Harrison.

A well-directed strike by Andy Sinton saw Alex Kolinko save well, and then Adam Proudlock scuffed the ball when he really should have done better. A corner totally wasted by Palace, going straight out of play, saw the ball flicked up to the other end of the pitch where Sinton noticed that Alex was off his line and brilliantly lobbed the ball into the inviting empty goalmouth. We were a goal down, and in all honesty never looked like pulling the deficit back.

Andrew Frampton tried an immediate reply from a David Hopkin trademark long throw-in, but the keeper deflected it for a corner. Needless to say this chance was wasted too. Wayne Carlisle put a shot well wide of the mark, and then Clinton made a good run up the left hand side of the field, but Andrew lifted the ball high, and wide, of the target. Hopkin attempted a run on goal, but was dispossessed by the defence, and then Clinton had a shot that went tamely to the keeper.

Ketsbaia then lifted a shot well over the bar, and then a frantic effort in front of the Wolves goal saw the ball pinging around the box, the final effort falling to Hopkin who hit the ball over the top. Once again Proudlock got a snap shot on goal, but this time Alex was alert to the move, then Clinton and Dougie Freedman advanced on the keeper only to foul him and mess up what was probably our best chance of the half. Branch then got through on goal but his shot was poor, allowing Alex time to recover, then Clinton sent in a rocket-like shot that merely went straight to the keeper.

Keith Andrews then fouled Andrejs Rubins and the referee had no hesitation in showing the red card. The poor part for Palace though was that Andrejs also went off, on a stretcher, to be replaced by Julian Gray. At least Wolves were down to 10 men, and just maybe we could still get back into the match?

Ketsbaia was substituted for ex-Palace player Neil Emblen, in an attempt to shore up the defence for the visitors, but Palace pushed forward from a free kick and it was David Hopkin that got the last touch on a ball that went agonisingly wide. Within moments though the whistle signalled half time, and we all sat and hoped for better things in the second period of play. Maybe that was a forlorn hope?

At the start of the new half Ricardo Fuller came on for Andrew Frampton and the rain started with a vengeance. Somehow Proudlock managed to beat the offside trap, and his shot eluded the keeper to double the lead, and leave Palace with a mountain to climb and little confidence of being able to even start the task in hand.

Gray took a corner for Palace, but Oakes tipped the ball over the bar. Hopkin, Aki and Harrison then all had shots blocked before Wayne Carlisle put the ball in the side netting. He really should have done better with that opportunity. His next shot was just as poor, going well over the top from a long way out.

Hopkin, having picked up an injury, was replaced by Gregg Berhalter, and the jeering from the crowd began in earnest. Their resentment was nothing to do with Gregg coming on to the pitch, though it may have been alarm at the loss of the effective Hopkin. The jeering was firmly aimed at Alan Smith, and continued almost unabated for the rest of the match.

Dean Austin made a good run almost the length of the pitch before neatly finding Clinton. As is starting to seem usual Clinton was facing the wrong way, and was unable to score. His confidence now seems gone, and it seems unlikely he would hit the proverbial barn door, even if it were offered to him! Hayden Mullins then took a shot on goal, but once again it was nowhere near the mark, and though Dougie got to the ball next he was unable to place a decent strike on goal.

At this point the fans started to tear up their season tickets (note, they would have been empty anyway, as this is the last home game of the season), throw their programmes on the pitch, and generally showed their displeasure at the performance, not only for today but also for what seems most of the season. Many seem to have very short memories; for it was not long ago that we were travelling well in the League, and were set to face Liverpool in the Cup. What a difference a few weeks makes!

Aki then saw a shot blocked on the line, the follow up by Clinton was also blocked, and then Hayden saw his shot meet the same fate. It seems we were destined never to find the back of the net today. Despite a few other chances we never got any closer to scoring, and to really round out a poor day Harrison managed to get booked in the last minute of official time.

Performances such as this will never endear the fans to a side that has performed poorly overall for the season. Those that have been supporting Palace for years will still be back next term, with fresh hopes in their hearts, even if it is in Division Two, but I am afraid that many of the younger supporters may now well be lost to the cause.

Question that come to mind for Alan Smith are:

Where is Neil Ruddock when we need him? He is still contracted to the Club, so Terry Byfield tells me, and it is at times like this that we sorely need his leadership on the field.

Why is Tommy Black not playing? He was by far our most influential player earlier in the season.

Why is Jamie Pollock playing in a promotion chasing Birmingham side when we need his talents back home now?

These three questions all have the same answer - they have fallen out with Alan. As such Alan will not allow them to play in the side, no matter what the cost. This list does not include Andy Linighan who left earlier in the season, another victim of Alan's poor man-management skills.

Colin Pryce

Crystal Palace: Alex Kolinko, Hayden Mullins, Dean Austin, Craig Harrison, Andrew Frampton (Ricardo Fuller 46), David Hopkin (Gregg Berhalter 58), Aki Riihilahti, Andrejs Rubins (Julian Gray 45), Wayne Carlisle, Dougie Freedman, Clinton Morrison.

Substitutes not used: Mikael Forssell, Matthew Gregg.

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Michael Owens, Kevin Muscat, Lee Naylor, Joleon Lescott, Tony Dinning, Michael Branch, Carl Robinson, Keith Andrews, Andy Sinton, Temuri Ketsbaia (Neil Emblen 45), Adam Proudlock.

Substitutes not used: Mike Stowell, Cedric Roussel, Robert Taylor, Mohammed Camara.

Attendance: 18,993

Referee: Mr M Ryan (Preston)