August 14 2005

Andy Johnson

Crystal Palace won their first point of the season with a well-earned 1-1 draw at fellow promotion favourites Norwich City.

But for the second game in a row, they got off to a nightmare start by conceding a goal within the opening moments of the game.

City striker Dean Ashton, who Palace tried to sign last season, scored a cracking first goal after six minutes.

Andy Hughes lofted a long ball to Ashton just inside the area and Ashton stole a couple of yards from Fitz Hall and volleyed home in off the bar.

Palace got themselves back into the game and created some decent chances. Jon Macken fired wide, Darren Ward headed over and Macken forced a good save from Robert Green.

Wayne Andrews replaced the injured Macken, who limped off with a hamstring injury in the 34th minute.

Norwich had opportunities to increase the lead with Darren Huckerby the main threat down the left wing.

Jurgen Colin was desperately unlucky not to score after blasting a drive inches past the Palace post and Gabor Kirlay had to be alert to save from former Palace trainee Leon McKenzie.

Three minutes before the break, Andy Johnson got a deserved leveller for the Londoners. Tom Soares back-heeled a pass to Emmerson Boyce down the right and the right-back's low cross was flicked in by Johnson.

The match was a thrilling end-to-end encounter with both sides having good chances to score and Andrews' pace was causing the Norwich defence havoc.

In the 48th minute, Kiraly made a great one-handed stop from a McKenzie before drive Dean Marney went close with a free-kick six minutes later.

Down the other end, Andrews' 59th-minute shot went agonisingly wide after Joonas Kolkka put him through.

Palace had a lucky escape when Ashton's left-foot strike from distance crashed against the left hand post on 65 minutes.

And it was Johnson who nearly stole all three points with a dipping shot caught on the half volley that Green did very well to palm over.

Palace: Kiraly, Boyce, Fitz Hall, Ward, Borrowdale, Soares, Leigertwood, Watson, Kolkka (Butterfield 75), Johnson, Macken (Andrews 34).

Subs not used: Speroni, Hudson, Popovic.

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