Palace 2 - 2 Stockport County

Saturday November 25 2000 - League

The Eagles had to fight their way back in the game twice to keep their unbeaten run.

It took Stockport only five minutes to score their first when Aaron Wilbraham redirected Kent Bergersen's near-post corner into the net.

Eagles keeper Alex Kolinko then kept Palace in the game producing a couple of vital saves, one of them being a fifteen-yard cracker from Kevin Cooper.

Palace came back five minutes into the second half when Forssell coolly netted a Hayden Mullins cross.

However, on 67 minutes, Stockport took the lead again. Kolinko misjudged Ally Gibb's cross and Karim Fradin headed home.

Ten minutes later, it was again Forssell who made it two apiece. Clinton Morrison provided the assist and Forssell dispatched it past goalkeeper Dibble.

Post match comments

Palace boss Alan Smith said: "It's been one of those weeks. What with losing four key players in (Steve) Staunton, (Andrejs) Rubens, (Neil) Ruddock and (Dougie) Freedman I knew it was going to be difficult.

"But it was one of those games and I am really pleased to have kept an unbeaten run.

"Mikael Forssell at 19 is still learning his trade, we were really pleased with his performance - he's undoubtedly our man of the match - and pleased with the point."

Stockport boss Andy Kilner said: "I'm disappointed not to have won but I'm thrilled to bits with the performance.

"I thought Crystal Palace in the second half were the better side and we just couldn't kill them off.

"Dibble came on for us, who is on a month-to-month contract, and did really well for us."

He added: "Forssell is a quality player - it's a pity we didn't take him in the summer but we just couldn't afford another wage on our books. It seemed it came back to haunt us today."

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