March 22 2003

Wayne Routledge

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

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.

Palace: Kolinko, Granville, Butterfield, Symons, Freedman, Derry, Gray, Smith, Black, Adebola, Borrowdale.

Subs: Berthelin, Thomson, Routledge, Williams, Antwi.

Today's football results and scorers

Division One table

Palace 2002/3 team stats

Rate the players' performance

Send us your match report

Call the HOL on 07092 362 125 and tell us what you thought of the match! More information about the service

See how you got on in the Prediction League

Did you take any photos of the game? Send them to: webmaster@holmesdale.net