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April 26 2024 2.28am

Norwich City 2 - 0 Palace

Sat Nov 16 2002 - League

Norwich City ended Palace's 11-game unbeaten run as the Eagles were defeated at Carrow Road.

Paul McVeigh put the home side ahead with an early strike against the run of play in the ninth minute.

Match Stats

Ground: Carrow Road (Attendance: 20907)

Norwich City: Green, Nedergaard, Kenton, Fleming (Mackay, 31), Drury, Rivers (Southall, 84), Mulryne, Holt, McVeigh, Nielsen (Abbey, 89), Roberts

Subs not used: Crichton, Henderson

Bookings: Mulryne, Roberts

Goals: McVeigh 9, Roberts 87

Palace: Michopoulos, Butterfield, Symons (Antwi, 89), Powell, Granville, Black (Williams, 67), Thomson, Derry (Riihilahti, 82), Gray, Adebola, Johnson

Subs not used: Kolinko, Borrowdale

Bookings: Thomson

Referee: E K Wolstenholme (Blackburn)

And with four minutes remaining, Iwan Roberts made the game safe for the third-placed side with a second goal.

Post match comments:

Trevor Francis said: "We have been beaten by a very good side and there is no disgrace whatsoever in losing to Norwich.

"I have just told the players that we have just lost our unbeaten run against a team which will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.

"I think we were unlucky to go in at half time 1-0 down but we were let down by the quality of our crosses. Their first goal was an excellent finish but was started by a mistake from Kit Symons.

"It would be cruel to criticise as he has only recently come back into the team following his long time out through injury but he has been working hard to regain fitness and today his general play was good."

Francis added: "I always try and be positive in my team selections but I was once again hampered by the number of injuries and suspension served to Hayden Mullins.

"Although everyone worked hard today and I always felt we were going to get back in the game but in the end that second goal just killed us off.

"It’s disappointing but we have to put this result behind us, look forward to the next game and start another run."

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