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November 21 2024 11.44am

Palace 2 - 0 Walsall

Sat Mar 22 2003 - League

Crystal Palace finally won a home league game in 2003, beating nine-men Walsall 2-0, who gave away two penalties.

Match Stats

Ground: Selhurst Park (Attendance: 19102)

Palace: Kolinko, Granville, Symons, Jamie Smith (Thomson, 23), Gray, Borrowdale, Derry, Butterfield, Freedman (Routledge, 54), Black (Antwi, 74), Adebola

Subs not used: Williams, Berthelin

Goals: Freedman 33 (pen), Routledge 89

Walsall: Walker, Bazeley, Carbon, Roper, Aranalde (Shuker, 80), Wrack, Samways, Robinson (sent off 61), O'Connor (sent off 81), Matias (Junior, 64), Leitao

Subs not used: Corica, Barras, Ward

Bookings: Carbon, Roper

Referee: Clive Penton (Woodindean)

Walsall's Jorge Leitao and Palace's Dele Adebola both shot wide from 20 yards in the opening stages of the game.

The visitors had much of the early possesion only for Palace to open the scoring with a penalty just past the half hour.

Dougie Freedman was fouled in the box by Ian Roper, who received a yellow card, and the referee awarded a penalty. Freedman dusted himself down and put away the spot-kick.

Adebola fired over the bar and Alex Kolinko had to be alert to punch away a Vinny Samways corner and dangerous cross from Pedro Matias.

It was then Freedman's chance to shoot over the bar, while Julian Gray had a strike saved by Walsall keeper by James Walker. Kolinko stopped a short-range effort from Leitao.

On the hour, Palace should have doubled the lead when they were awarded another penalty.

Roper was the culprit again, this time for a handball, but Tommy Black's spotkick was turned away by Walker.

Moments later, Carl Robinson was shown a straight red card for a foul on Gray. The Saddlers went down to nine men in the 81st minute when former Eagle Martin O'Connor committed a professional foul on Wayne Routledge.

Routledge got on the score-sheet to make it 2-0 in the last minute with a strike from the middle of the penalty box.

Post match comments:


With so many players injured I am glad we got the win
Trevor Francis

Trevor Francis said: "With so many players injured I am glad we got the win and credit to the players as they knew I was down to the bare bones. They did everything I asked of them.

"But our injury worries continue as Dougie Freedman suffered a calf strain, Jamie Smith has a hamstring problem and Kit Symons played on with an injury also. So I don't know what side I can field against Brighton in midweek."

Walsall (H) Photos From The Terrace Photos

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