October 5 2002

The Football League

Crystal Palace were unable to carry on their goalscoring form from their midweek thrashing of Cheltenham as they were held to a 1-1 draw away to Stoke City.

Dele Adebola got his third goal in the last two games to put Palace ahead in the 77th minute.

The goal looked like the three points were in the bag for the South Londoners, but Chris Iwelumo equalised for Stoke with five minutes remaining.

Both sides have now gone on a five-match unbeaten run, although Palace should have wrapped up the points.

In a game of very few chances, Shaun Derry had a shot hit straight at Neil Cutler from close range after 15 minutes.

Ten minutes later, Andy Cooke headed Wayne Thomas' cross over the bar and despite having more possession, Stoke failed to break down the Palace rearguard.

Andy Johnson had two chances to break the deadlock. First when he headed wide Danny Butterfield's cross and then shooting wide of the post with a left-foor strike from 18 yards.

Five minutes into the second half, Johnson forced Cutler into another save with a 20-yard effort on the right of the box.

For Stoke, Cooke had a 30-yard shot wide and two minutes after, Thomas headed Jurgen Vandeurzen's cross over the bar from six yards.

Aproaching the hour mark, Adebola headed Butterfield's right sided cross over the bar from close range.

Then in the 77th minute, Adebola drilled left-footed home from left side of penalty area 18 yards out from Dougie Freedman's pass to make it 1-0.

And with five left on the clock, Iwelumo drilled right-footed from the right side of the penalty area from Marc Goodfellow's assist to equalise and claim a point for Stoke City.

Crystal Palace: Michopoulos, Fleming, Powell, Popovic, Granville, Butterfield (Black 76), Derry (Riihilahti 67), Mullins, Johnson (Gray 57), Freedman, Adebola.

Subs not used: Cronin, Austin.

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