February 10 2001

Gray - Super Sub

A very late goal by Clinton Morrison earned Palace three points at Turf Moor today. Burnley took the lead after 12 minutes through Cook, but Forssell equalised in the second half. Morrison secured the points with a last minute strike.

Burnley's Greek keeper Nik Michopoulos had an outstanding game producing a string of saves but it proved not to be enough to hold off The Eagles strikeforce.

The Clarets took the lead after 12 minutes when Paul Cook found himself with acres of space to drill the ball past Palace keeper Matt Gregg.

The Eagles had to wait until the 73rd minute before they finally found their way past Michopoulos. Mikael Forssell scored the equaliser from a low cross.

After Forssell's goal both teams went all out for a winner, but it was Palace who grabbed all three points. It was Clinton Morrison who headed home after Michopoulos had parried a shot from Julian Gray.

The Eagles are 14th now in the Nationwide First Division league table with 36 points from 30 games.

Post match comments

Eagles manager ALan Smith praised his young side: "I am delighted by the way this team is progressing. We are young, fresh and exciting and could be a real force next season.

"Any other result would have been a total injustice although we did leave it a little late.

"Their goalkeeper was outstanding but we always looked likely to get a goal or two and thankfully we did.

"The average age of our team is 21 and the sense of togetherness is very apparent. I see bright days ahead for this club."

Burnley boss Stan Ternent said his side was unlucky to lose out to a very late winner against Palace.

He said: "Nothing much is going right for us at the moment and it was very disappointing to lose out so late.

"The players are determined to come through this and I am confident they will.

"We had enough chances to have taken a point but it wasn't to be and we have to take it on the chin.

"We hit the bar just before they equalised and had that gone in it would have been a different story."