Walsall - 3 (Corica 1. Junior 4. 53.)
Crystal Palace - 4 (Johnson 29. 64. 90. Freedman 58.)

Following on from the great win against archrivals Brighton at the weekend, Palace travelled to the Bescot Stadium to take on Walsall, who were just behind us in the League. One could not have predicted such an explosive start to the game, for it was not very long into the game before we were a long way behind on the scoreboard.

Shaun Derry and Andy Johnson got the match underway, but it was Jorge Leitao that centered the ball that Steve Corica forced home, Alex Kolinko not even getting a glimpse of the ball before it was in the back of the net. Only one minute gone, and already we were 1-0 down, but worse was yet to follow. Danny Granville cleared a dangerous cross into the centre, but a corner was conceded, and that spelt disaster for Palace. The corner was swung in, the ball flew out from the area, and it was Junior that was on hand to pounce, firing a great shot straight into the back of the net. 2-0, and only four minutes had passed us by. Whatever next?

The next attempt on goal came once again from Junior (I wonder if he has a "real" name? I'm sure he must have.), but Alex did well to hang on to the save. Junior's next shot met with the same fate, Alex pulling off a great save, before finally Dele Adebola got the ball forward to Dougie Freedman, his ineffectual shot presenting no challenge to the home keeper.

The game went fairly quiet for a while before Fitzroy Simpson managed to get round Alex, the ball fortunately going out of play before he could get it back under control. Junior forced Alex into yet another superb save before producing another great volley, which once again Alex did well to hold on to. The ball was cleared to hat trick hero AJ, and with his confidence obviously still at a high he raced up to the area and sweetly lobbed the ball over the advancing keeper, making the task in front of us look just that little easier.

A corner, forced by Dougie, presented Dele with a chance at goal, his header going wide of the mark. An offside decision went against the Eagles and Dele earned a yellow card for a tackle on Corica. Danny Butterfield cut out the next attacking raid by Walsall, but Zigor Aranalde forced a corner, Junior being ruled offside even though his shot was saved, once again, by Alex. Tony Popovic collected a yellow card for a clumsy tackle on Martin O'Connor and Shaun had to be alert to stop Junior sliding in once more.

As the half came to a close Palace won a corner, the final result being that Dougie put his header just wide, and without further ado the referee signalled it was time for a rest. In fairness to our hosts they were fully deserving of their lead, and in truth should really have killed the game off before we got this far in the match. Perhaps our fortunes might change following the break?

At the start of the second half Danny Sonner immediately replaced O'Connor, but the Palace side remained unchanged. Leitao was caught offside before Dougie won another corner, the ball being fired in by Julian Gray with Tony getting a header in that was deflected behind for another corner. That one came to nothing, and immediately at the other end Aranalde put in a good shot that sailed just over the top of the bar. Corica then fired in a long-range shot that Alex brilliantly saved, and AJ got a shot at the other end that somehow went over the top when it looked far easier to score.

The goal did come though, but unfortunately at the wrong end for the Palace supporters. Junior made a good run into the area, and this time Alex was unable to stop the ball, 3-1 to Walsall, and surely the beginning of the end?

Danny Granville took a free kick to Palace, but Walsall cleared their lines; then Leitao put in a sweet cross that fortunately went out of play before the attack could get on the end of it. AJ finally managed another decent strike on goal, but though the keeper did well to parry the shot the ball fell straight to Dougie and he made no mistake burying the ball in the back of the net. 3-2, and it was still game on.

Aki Riihilahti came on for Darren Powell, but as he did Leitao waltzed into our area, and only a last ditch tackle by Julian saved the day. A number of attempts at the other end came from AJ, Aki and Danny B, but none of them found the back of the net, though the next corner really helped the cause. Danny B guided the ball into the area, and it was once again AJ who got a great header in at the near post, and suddenly we were all locked up at 3-3. With about 30 minutes of the game still to run, what would happen next?

Alex cleared another Walsall attack, but the ball came straight back, fortunately sailing well over the bar. A corner to Palace flew into the area, and as Danny G got his head to the ball, just for a moment the Palace fans thought this might just be the moment we finally took the lead. Of course, the ball simply glanced off his head and went behind for a goal kick.

Moreira Erivelto replaced Junior (and many were pleased to see the back of him, at least on the Palace side of the fence) and Tommy Black joined in the fray, replacing Dele. Hayden Mullins was "awarded" a yellow card for tripping Corica, and the resulting free kick went out of play, a simple goal kick resulting. Walsall won a corner that they really wasted, but then Corica got back in the action, his stinging shot well held by Alex.

As the clock ran down Dougie was allowed a few minutes of extra rest, Will Antwi coming on to replace him; did this mean that Trevor Francis was shutting shop and settling for a point? Bringing on a defender for a striker certainly made it seem that way. A corner to Palace was wasted before Simpson was booked for a foul on Aki. He, in turn, was then booked for a foul on Simpson (I guess that made it even), and as we entered the final minute of the four minutes added on it looked as though the ploy of hanging on for a point was about to pay off.

The free kick came in, and was cleared by the Palace defence, the ball being brought to safety by Tommy. He obviously had not read the script, as he put in a superb pass to AJ, and to the delight of all the Palace fans he simply fired the ball home. With virtually the last kick of the game AJ had completed his second hat trick in four days, and had put us into the lead for the first time in the match. I guess the most important time to be ahead is really at the end; and now I wonder just how we might go at Portman Road on Sunday?

One thing is for sure. The players, management and directors would have had a wonderful trip home, as did all the Palace supporters on the night. Walsall fans would have left somewhat bemused, wondering just how they could be 3-1 up and still manage to lose the game. I feel sure that Palace could explain it quite easily to them, considering some of our performances so far this season. Perhaps our luck is finally changing?

Colin Pryce

Walsall: James Walker, Zigor Aranalde, Darren Bazeley, Danny Hay, Ian Roper, Steve Corica, Martin O'Connor (Danny Sonner 45), Fitzroy Simpson, Junior (Moreira Erivelto 76), Jorge Leitao, Darren Wrack.

Substitutes not used: Gavin Ward, Tony Barras, David Zdrilic.

Crystal Palace: Alex Kolinko, Danny Granville, Hayden Mullins, Tony Popovic, Darren Powell (Aki Riihilahti 59), Danny Butterfield, Shaun Derry, Julian Gray, Dele Adebola (Tommy Black 77), Dougie Freedman (Will Antwi 86), Andrew Johnson.

Substitutes not used: Nikolaos Michopoulos, Andrejs Rubins.

Attendance: 6,368

Referee: Mr M Cowburn (Lancashire)