Crystal Palace - 1 (Austin 61.)
Crewe Alexandra - 0

Alan Smith took a bit of a punt in this match, employing three strikers up front in an attempt to get some goals on the scoresheet. None of them managed to score, but Palace did still run out winners, so the pressure obviously told. A few more wins should see the side safe, and a very important match will be Tuesday night's fixture against Huddersfield Town at Selhurst Park, being what is termed a "six point" match.

Fan Zhiyi and Craig Harrison were welcomed back for this match and Aki Riihilahti was given a home debut. Kenny Verhoenen was on the bench, completing yet another fair change of players in the starting line-up. I am starting to wonder if we are ever going to get a settled side.

The visiting Crewe side welcomed back Jason Kearton, though the performances over the last couple of months from Ademole Bankole saw him retain his place in goal, and the youngster Alan Navarro was given a place on the bench, as Dario Gradi looked for another win.

The game got underway in cool but dry conditions, and the free tickets given out to children accompanying adults, and the free tickets given to local schools to raise funds for their libraries had bolstered the home support. A great crowd of 20,872 was on hand to witness Palace's resurgence.

Almost immediately the crowd noticed a subtle change in the play, from that of previous weeks. It appeared that the team was now starting to pass the ball around instead of just "hoofing" it up the field at every opportunity. Of course, it is sometimes necessary, when defending deeply, to simply clear the ball up the field with a lash of the ball, but this match was looking as though it might be played with a series of slick passing moves. The crowd, and supporters around the world, have been crying out to Alan to get the game back to this footing, and it looks as if he may have, at last, listened to the pleas from the long suffering fans.

With only three minutes gone Mikael Forssell took a long-range shot on goal, which Ademole Bankole did well to keep out. Shortly after this Simon Rodger saw his effort blocked by Steve Macauley. Mikael then headed wide of the mark, admittedly from a fair way out, and then Fan Zhiyi, a welcome addition back to the team, fired a shot over the top of the bar. It was not all one-way traffic though, and Alex Kolinko had to be at his best to keep out Mark Rivers. Dougie Freedman, David Hopkin and Forssell all went close, but for whatever reason the goal would not come. Meanwhile Dean Ashton was making a nuisance of himself at our end of the park, but a great marking job was done on him by Matthew Upson, though he did concede a number of fouls on the up and coming junior.

The half-time whistle sounded before anyone was aware that we were anywhere near the end of the first stanza, and the sides trooped off, with, for once, Palace not behind on the scoreboard. The chances created though should have seen them ahead!

The timing of our first raid on goal in the second half was exactly the same as that of the first half - three minutes. This time, Tommy Black, on for Dougie, managed to weave his way round the keeper, and with an open goal in his path he somehow contrived to delay his shot until Ademole was back in goal, and he duly saved the shot. Fan then made a good run into the area, but he lost possession, the ball falling thankfully to Dean Austin, loitering on the edge of the area. His rocket-like shot cannoned off one of the other players, generally thought to be Clinton, and raced into the back of the net before the keeper had time to respond.

We were 1-0 up, and I somehow doubt it was Clinton that the ball came off, for he surely would have claimed the goal!

Crewe never really threatened during this period, and we were unlucky not to make it two, with firstly a back-heeled attempt from Mikael, which hit the post, and then a header from Clinton that was blocked by the keeper. Tommy went close a couple of times, but during the last 10 minutes Crewe did go looking for the equaliser with Rivers in particular looking menacing. The defence held on though, and Palace finished the match with all three points in the bag, a welcome relief for Alan I feel sure.

The man of the match for Palace was a bit of a toss-up, with Tommy very impressive during his time on the pitch for the second half, but the majority of votes went to one of the few not mentioned in this report in any detail, Aki Riihilahti, who played a great game in the midfield. Following his performance against England last week he looks a reasonable acquisition for the side.

Colin Pryce

Crystal Palace: Alex Kolinko, Matthew Upson, Dean Austin, Fan Zhiyi (Kenny Verhoenen 88), Craig Harrison, Aki Riihilahti, Simon Rodger, David Hopkin, Dougie Freedman (Tommy Black 46), Mikael Forssell, Clinton Morrison.

Substitutes not used: Andrew Frampton, Andrejs Rubins, Ricardo Fuller.

Crewe Alexandra: Ademole Bankole, Steve Macauley, Shaun Smith, David Wright, Stephen Foster, Kenny Lunt, Neil Sorvel, Kevin Street (Alan Navarro 74), Rodney Jack, Mark Rivers, Dean Ashton (Bob Hulse 77).

Substitutes not used: Jason Kearton, Colin Little, Efe Sodje.

Attendance: 20,872

Referee: Mr E Wolstenholme (Blackburn)