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November 23 2024 8.01am

Palace 0 - 0 Nottm Forest

Sat Nov 9 2002 - League

Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest were unable to find the net at Selhurst Park.

Palace's unbeaten run has stretched to nine games and they remain 12th in Nationwide Division One.

Match Stats

Ground: Selhurst Park (Attendance: 18971)

Palace: Michopoulos, Granville, Popovic, Powell, Butterfield, Gray (Riihilahti, 72), Derry, Mullins, Thomson (Symons, 58), Adebola (Kabba, 65), Johnson

Subs not used: Kolinko, Black

Bookings: Derry, Granville, Popovic

Nottm Forest: Ward, Louis-Jean, Walker, Dawson, Brennan, Scimeca, Williams, Prutton, Lester, Johnson (Jess, 31), Harewood

Subs not used: Roche, Hjelde, Doig, Westcarr

Bookings: Lester, Walker

Referee: C R Wilkes (Gloucester)

The home side got off to a lively start. Hayden Mullins' goal-bound shot was unfortunately blocked by Steve Thomson and veteran defender Des Walker had to be at his best to block a Dele Adebola effort.

Darren Powell came to the rescue for Palace when he managed to tackle Marlon Harewood who was through on goal from a Jack Lester through-ball.

Andy Johnson went agonisingly close, heading Danny Granville's left-wing cross wide on 20 minutes.

Julian Gray skied a free-kick over the bar and Adebola had a shot saved by Darren Ward.

Forest were dealt a blow when top scorer David Johnson was taken off injured on 31.

Nine minutes before half-time, Nik Michopoulos pulled off a superb save from Ricardo Scimeca's free-kick which looked destined for the top right corner.

After the break, Forest came out a more hungry side and forced Palace onto the back-foot.

Twelve minutes into the second period, Eoin Jess's shot went into the back of the net off Granville, but luckily for Palace, the goal was ruled out for offside.

And two minutes later, Michopoulos thwarted first Harewood and then Jess on the rebound.

The Eagles got back into the game towards the end as Tony Popovic saw a header flash narrowly wide of the post from a corner. But the match finished as a draw and probably a fair result.

Post match comments:

Trevor Francis said: "Both managers could point to moments in the game when either side could have won it.


Both managers could point to moments in the game when either side could have won it
Trevor Francis

"We were a little limited. In the second half I was worried that Forest would impose themselves as they hadn't had a game for a week while we were involved in Worthington Cup action, and to be fair they did that after the break.

"Forest are blessed with some very talented young players and they will be there at the end of the season - they are a good side.

"It was a difficult game for Andy [Johnson], he didn't have many chances, but he is allowed one game where he doesn't score."

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