Nottm Forest 3 - 2 Palace

Sat Mar 13 2004 - League

Crystal Palace return to South London empty handed after losing 3-2 at Nottingham Forest.

Match Stats

Ground: City Ground (Attendance: 28306)

Nottm Forest: Roche, Louis-Jean, Morgan, Dawson, Rogers (Walker, 53), Sonner, Williams (Thompson, 89), Jess, Reid, Taylor, Barmby (Johnson, 85)

Subs not used: Formann, Westcarr

Bookings: Barmby, Johnson, Sonner

Goals: Williams 4, Reid 13, Williams 74

Palace: Berthelin, Butterfield, Popovic, Leigertwood, Granville, Routledge, Derry (Freedman, 76), Hughes, Gray, Shipperley, Johnson

Subs not used: Black, Smith, Borrowdale, Togwell

Bookings: Popovic, Shipperley

Goals: Shipperley 58, Granville 76

Referee: Iain Williamson (Berkshire)

The Eagles saw themselves 2-0 down after only 13 minutes - Gareth Williams and Andy Reid were Forest's goalscorers.

Cedric Berthelin had already made a fine stop to deny Reid before Williams scored the opening goal from the edg of the box after just four minutes.

On-loan Nick Barmby evaded three Palace challenges and set up Reid for the second goal nine minutes later.

In the second half, Palace side showed more urgency and pulled a goal back on 58 when Neil Shipperley steered home from Danny Granville's left-side run and cross.

Reid went desperatley close to adding to Forest's lead but his lob hit the top of the crossbar.

Williams got his second of the game to put Forest 3-1 up in the 74th minute when he pounced on Reid's flick-on to drive in from the edge of the penalty area.

Two minutes later, Granville headed Palace back to 3-2 from Wayne Routledge's cross but the hosts held out for a vital win.

From The Terrace Photos