Burnley - 0
Crystal Palace - 0

This result left Palace closer to the bottom of the table than the top, and it is interesting that they have now gone three complete games without scoring a goal. In the same timeframe the Reserves have scored 15 goals - I wonder if Trevor has contemplated asking Dave Swindlehurst for the loan of his team for a few games? If we firstly consider that Burnley had not managed to take a single point from four games, and that they had only scored one goal so far this term, then really Palace should have done so much better. It is not as if we did not create the chances, but merely that we seem to be lacking the final ability to put the goal in the back of the net that must by now be worrying not only our management but also the Chairman and of course, us, the poor suffering fans. Surely we can find some way of putting a few goals away, and bring the smiles back to the faces of the supporters? Perhaps it will all begin in our Worthington Cup match against Plymouth Argyle.

Burnley got the match underway, and a long punt up the field saw Gareth Taylor snap a shot at goal that went well wide of the mark. Dimitrios Papadopoulos did well to get into the danger area, but Matt Clarke easily dealt with the situation, clearing the ball for a Burnley throw-in. A foul on Andy Johnson saw the first free kick of what turned out to be many, and the ball was played in just out of the reach of Dele Adebola. The next free kick, for a foul on Curtis Fleming, was curled in by Danny Granville, but the defence was equal to the task, heading the ball away.

Glen Little played a nice ball in for Paul Weller, but Matt was again in form, clearing the ball before danger struck. Dougie Freedman then found himself in a one-on-one situation with keeper Nikolaos Michopoulos but the keeper did well to keep the ball out of the back of the net. Taylor and Weller combined well to play Papadopoulos back in, but once more Matt cleared and Aki Riihilahti was on hand to pump the ball once more upfield. More quick thinking from Matt averted further danger at our end, and almost immediately after a foul on Dele saw a free kick that was swung in by Danny G and Andy's header was well stopped by the Burnley keeper.

Michopoulos was then guilty of coming out too far and not collecting the ball. Dougie quickly passed the ball to Hayden Mullins, but his shot went painfully wide of the empty goal, and still the score remained locked at 0-0. A cross in by AJ was missed by Dele, and Dougie got a foot to it but was unable to steer it goalwards once again. A shot from Aki was deflected away from the danger zone before Taylor brought a reactionary save from Matt, the ball going behind for a corner. Totally messing up the opportunity the ball went out of play, and so the match continued.

Tony Grant earned the first yellow card of the match for a clumsy piece of play involving Tony Popovic, and then Danny Butterfield made a good run into the area, unfortunately losing the ball before he could make a worthwhile cross. Dele got clear of the defence, his shot going wide once more whilst at the other end Darren Powell had to be alert to clear the danger once more. Lee Briscoe was awarded a yellow card, not for the extent of his foul but more for the number of times he had been involved in giving away free kicks.

Dougie made a good run before being brought down by Ian Cox, and the third yellow card of the match was brandished by the referee. Aki then got a yellow of his own for a late tackle, and it was starting to appear that this was going to be a very stop-start affair, the way the officials were handing out the cards. Papadopoulos was caught in an offside trap, but even so he got a shot in that would not have counted had it gone anywhere near the goal. As it was it went well wide of the designated goalmouth. Dougie managed to chip the ball over the head of the keeper, but once again the ball sailed just wide, and then Hayden headed the ball wide of the upright.

The Burnley keeper snuffed out the next dangerous move forward by Palace, this time from Dele, and in added-on time Dougie did well to get the ball through to Dele, but Cox was able to avert the danger. The teams went in to the break locked at 0-0. Trevor Francis would have been asking for more of the same in the second half, but with a preference for actually putting the ball in the back of the net. Palace had by far the bulk of the possession, and by far the most of the chances during the first half, but their inability to convert any of that into goals might well come back in the second half to bite them.

AJ and Dougie got the second half underway, and the first attacking move came from Burnley, the danger being well cleared by Darren. Papadopoulos made a good run into the area, but Tony simply stood his ground and bowled the attacking player over. He was awarded a yellow card for his trouble, which seemed a little unfair considering he had not moved, but many will argue the point so perhaps we had better just leave it at that. Matt cleared any danger from the resulting free kick and Michopoulos returned the favour at the other end. The Burnley keeper then cut out a pass aimed for Dougie and then Tony conceded a corner at the other end which was well cleared up by Aki.

Dele was robbed of the ball by Cox, just when it looked as if he might go on to score, and then we entered a period of play where the ball seemed to travel from one end of the field to the other without any serious danger to either side. Papadopoulos put a good-looking shot into the side netting before Mark McGregor cleared the danger from an advancing Dele at the other end. Dougie then put a brilliant pass through to Dele, but the linesman finally decided that he was offside, and play was brought back.

Another free kick to Palace saw Danny G sky the ball well over the top of the bar before the first change to the match took place with Steve Thomson coming on for Danny B. Matt made a double save from the attacking Burnley forwards but ended up clutching at his left leg, in somewhat obvious pain. It was apparent that Matt could no longer continue, so Alex Kolinko came into the fray, and immediately had to rush out from goal to clear a dangerous forward move. Taylor got a shot on goal, but though Alex dived for the ball it went wide of him, and fortunately wide of the upright as well.

Trevor made his last tactical change of the match, taking Dougie off, due to the fact that he was carrying a slight injury, and bringing Wayne Routledge on. Whilst this happened Burnley made their first change substituting Alan Moore for Glen Little. Wayne immediately made a good run down the field, but he tried to do just a little too much and lost possession of the ball. Papadopoulos came off in favour of Ian Moore and Burnley won a corner that Alex managed to avert at the second attempt.

A free kick for the home side was advanced 10 yards as Wayne failed to retreat the required distance, but Curtis dealt with the danger of the incoming ball, heading it away to safety. Taylor got through the defence, but Alex was equal to the task. Danny G put a shot wide and the final booking of the match saw Lenny Johnrose receive a yellow card which could only be for dissent. Wayne forced a corner, but the resulting set piece was wasted by Palace. AJ got a shot in that was blocked, the ball coming straight back out to Steve. He fired the ball back in to Dele, but his header went wide and over the top, all in one go.

Without further ado the match came to an end, and though we may well look upon the game as a point gained we really should have made more of our many chances, and taken home the three points on offer. Perhaps we might be able to work something out on this before the next game, as we now have 10 days to wait before our Cup match.

Colin Pryce

Burnley: Nikolaos Michopoulos, Lee Briscoe, Ian Cox, Mark McGregor, Dean West, Tony Grant, Lenny Johnrose, Glen Little (Alan Moore 78), Paul Weller, Dimitrios Papadopoulos (Ian Moore 82), Gareth Taylor.

Substitutes not used: Robert Blake, Graham Branch, Andy Payton.

Crystal Palace: Matt Clarke (Alex Kolinko 70), Curtis Fleming, Danny Granville, Hayden Mullins, Tony Popovic, Darren Powell, Danny Butterfield (Steve Thomson 65), Aki Riihilahti, Dele Adebola, Dougie Freedman (Wayne Routledge 78), Andy Johnson.

Substitutes not used: Tommy Black, Andrew Frampton.

Attendance: 12,407

Referee: Mr M Fletcher (Worcestershire)