February 21 2004

Michael Hughes

Crystal Palace threw away a goal lead to lose 2-1 against Derby County at Pride Park.

Struggling Derby pulled off a surprise victory against Division One form team Palace, whose five-match winning streak came to an end.

Derby's Izale McLeod and Marco Reich went close for the Rams in the opening stages but it was Palace who took the lead after 16 minutes.

Neil Shipperley headed CEDRIC BERTHELIN's goalkick onto Hughes and he struck a delightful lob over keeper Lee Grant from the edge of the area.

Palace suffered a blow when the league's leading scorer Andy Johnson had to go off injured on 29 minutes. His replacement Dougie Freedman brought a fine save from Grant when put through. Grant later made a good stop to deny Julian Gray.

Derby boss George Burley made some tactical changes in the second half and it paid dividends as they equalised in the 70th minute with a goal which involved two former Palace loanees.

Aston Villa's Rob Edwards, on loan at Palace earlier in the campaign, sent in a long throw which was flicked on by Noel Whelan - on loan at Palace last season - and Manel nodded past BERTHELIN to score.

Leon Osman, playing the final game on loan from Everton, got the winner for the hosts six minutes later. He disposessed Mark Hudson at the edge of the box and fired home past Frenchman BERTHELIN.

Derby County: Grant, Edwards, Mawene, Johnson, Jackson, Costa, Taylor, Huddlestone, Reich, McLeod, Osman.

Subs: Camp, Mills, Manel, Bolder, Whelan.

Crystal Palace: BERTHELIN, Butterfield, Popovic, Hudson, Granville, Routledge, Riihilahti, Hughes, Gray, Johnson, Shipperley.

Subs: Freedman, Derry, Black, Borrowdale, Leigertwood.

Today's football results and scorers

Division One table

Palace 2003/4 team stats

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