December 6 2003

Kit Symons dismissed

KIT SYMONS lost his first league match as caretaker boss and was sent off as 10-man Palace crumbled to a 4-1 defeat at Preston.

After a goalless first-half, Preston had a good start to the second period, scoring two goals within four minutes.

Dickson Etuhu opened the scoring after 48 minutes when David Healy's shot was parried by Tomas Mhyre and Etuhu fired home the rebound.

Preston doubled the lead two minutes after from the penalty spot. KIT SYMONS pulled back Ricardo Fuller, who was through on goal, and received the red card for a professional foul. Graham Alexander put away the spot-kick.

On 70 minutes, Palace clawed one back through a good goal from Shaun Derry after Michael Hughes had put him through.

But Preston's Eddie Lewis put the Deepdale side 3-1 up nine minutes later and David Healy made it 4-1 in the last minute of the game.

Preston NE: Gould, Jackson, Lucketti, Broomes, Alexander, Etuhu, O'Neil, McKenna, Lewis, Fuller, Healy.

Subs: Lucas, Abbott, Cresswell, Cartwright, Davis.

Crystal Palace: Myhre, Edwards, SYMONS, Popovic, Butterfield, Riihilahti, Hughes, Derry, Borrowdale, Shipperley, Black.

Subs: Berthelin, Routledge, Watson, Freedman, Fleming.

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