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November 21 2024 3.46pm

Palace 0 - 0 Rotherham United

Sat Apr 19 2003 - League

Crystal Palace failed to win their first game since the departure of Trevor Francis as Rotherham held the Eagles at 0-0.

Match Stats

Ground: Selhurst Park (Attendance: 15508)

Palace: Kolinko, Powell, Symons (Granville, 67), Mullins, Borrowdale (Black, 56), Butterfield, Watson, Derry, Gray, Adebola (Routledge, 80), Freedman

Subs not used: Thomson, Berthelin

Rotherham United: Gray, Shaun Barker, Swailes, Branston, McIntosh, Sedgwick (Talbot, 67), Daws, Mullin, Hurst, Lee, Richard Barker (Byfield, 83)

Subs not used: Robins, Warne, Hudson

Bookings: Gray, McIntosh, Richard Barker

Referee: C Webster (Shotley Bridge)

Not much seems to have changed since Francis and Crystal Palace parted company last Friday.

Rotherham's Alan Lee struck the woodwork after just 73 seconds as the Millers had Palace rattled early on.

Richard Barker twice went close and John Mullin mishit an easy effort which went straight at Alex Kolinko as the visitors dominated the opening 20 minutes.

Ben Watson nearly got the opening goal on 21 minutes for the Eagles but his 25-yard free-kick was turned around the post by Millers keeper Ian Gray.

Dougie Freedman then fired a low shot wide and Julian Gray had a "goal" ruled out for off-side.

Shaun Derry went wide and Danny Butterfield gave the keeper a save to make before Julian Gray had a shot blocked by a defender.

On 71, Freedman skied a close-range effort over the bar from a Gray corner and the Millers defended well to eventually end the game with a point.

Post match comments:

Caretaker boss Steve Kember said: "Terry Bullivant and I have spoken to the chairman and said we would like the chance to manage the side.

"The chairman has not discounted it but he might bring someone else in. This being a hectic 24 hours with Trevor going, but I took the opportunity to change things a bit before the game.


I was unhappy with the result, although the performance was okay as we played some good football, but a goalless match doesn't make good viewing for the spectators
Caretaker boss Steve Kember

"Trevor phoned me and wished us well, with emphasis on how well we all got on.

"I am happy with the youngsters that are coming through, this will set us up for next season, but we will need to blend this with experience.

"I was unhappy with the result, although the performance was okay as we played some good football, but a goalless match doesn't make good viewing for the spectators.

"We had a poor first 10 minutes, but after that we settled down and did quite well. Their keeper made a couple of good saves and we wasted a few chances."

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