You are here: Home > Reports > 2002/2003 > Match Report
November 21 2024 12.19pm

Palace 2 - 1 Plymouth Argyle

Tue Sep 10 2002 - League Cup

Andy Johnson rescued Palace with an extra-time goal to give the Londoners a 2-1 victory over Plymouth in the first round of the Worthington Cup at Selhurst Park.

They made hard work of the Division Two side and were generally very poor with the exception of Wayne Routledge - making his first start - who was outstanding.

Match Stats

Ground: Selhurst Park (Attendance: 6385)

Palace: Kolinko, Fleming, Austin (Butterfield 46), Powell, Granville, Johnson (Frampton 117), Thomson, Mullins, Routledge, Freedman, Adebola (Black 69).

Subs not used: Cronin, Rubins.

Booking: Mullins.

Goals: Powell 22, Johnson 113.

Plymouth Argyle: Larrieu, Worrell, Coughlan, Wotton, Aljofree, Sturrock (Evans 57), Hodges, Adams, Phillips (Friio 58), Lowndes (Stonebridge 83), Lopes.

Subs not used: Beresford, McCormick.

Booking: Evans.

Goal: Sturrock 39.

Referee: Clive Penton (Woodindean).

Darren Powell put Palace ahead in the 22nd minute. Danny Granville swung in in a free-kick on the right to Dele Adebola at the far post who headed back into the danger zone to Powell whose looping header beat the keeper and in off the post into the back of the net.

Blair Sturrock somehow missed an open goal for Plymouth. But they went into half-time in boyant mood after equalising in the 39th minute when Sturrock netted a right-sided Osvaldo Lopes cross from close range.

The visitors' Martin Phillips wasted a clear header as Palace bombarded the Plymouth goal with chances from substitute Tommy Black, Dougie Freedman, Granville and Johnson in the second half.

The game went to extra-time with Black having forced the keeper Romain Larrieu into two saves. Then Johnson popped up with seven minutes remaining to score from Granville's cross.

Man of the Match: Routledge - has the hallmarks of a young Trevor Francis!

Chant of the Match: Francis OUT!

Post match comments:

Trevor Francis said: "I think we are really moving in the right direction and we will go into our next league fixture full of confidence.

"Our position in the league table is a false one and we have played well enough to merit a top six place. As soon as we get a few goals we will start to climb the table.


I think we are really moving in the right direction and we will go into our next league fixture full of confidence.
Trevor Francis

"When you play as well as we did after half-time onwards then you expect to win the match. We passed and crossed very well and the only thing missing was a goal. I kept faith in the players and finally the goal we deserved came."

Francis praised England under-17 international Wayne Routledge who made his first full appearance for the club.

He added: "Wayne has done very well in pre-season and is starting to develop physically.

"His ability and pace were never in question and he was excellent tonight. He was one of a number of players who performed particularly well for us tonight."

You are here: Home > Reports > 2002/2003 > Match Report