Wimbledon 1 - 3 Palace

Sat Aug 23 2003 - League

A 3-1 victory over Wimbledon at Selhurst Park enabled unbeaten Crystal Palace to move top of Division One.

Match Stats

Ground: Selhurst Park (Attendance: 6113) Wimbledon: Heald, Gier, Chorley, Leigertwood, Nowland, Tapp, Darlington (McDonald, 78), Reo-Coker, Gordon (McAnuff, 65), Holdsworth, Agyemang Subs not used: Hawkins, Holloway, Gore Booking: Nowland Goal: Reo-Coker 34 Palace: Clarke, Powell (Borrowdale, 42), Symons, Mullins (Riihilahti, 89), Butterfield, Smith, Watson, Black, Hughes, Freedman (Johnson, 74), Shipperley Subs not used: Berthelin, Williams Booking: Watson Goals: Butterfield 59, Freedman 65 (pen), Hughes 89 Referee: P Walton (Winwick)

But the Eagles had to come back from a goal behind in the 34th minute. Nigel Reo-Coker's goal gave the "home" side a half-time lead.

Then Danny Butterfield, a Dougie Freedman penalty and a Michael Hughes goal against his old side sealed the points and maintained Palace's 100 per cent record - the only one in the division.

Wimbledon, or Franchise FC as they are commonly known, started well. Alex Tapp shot wide from the edge of the box and Matt Clarke made an easy save from Adam Nowland on 13 minutes.

Four minutes later, Kit Symons nearly gave the Eagles the lead but his header from Jamie Smith's cross came back off the crossbar.

Freedman had an effort saved before Reo-Coker's strike came off the woodwork for the Dons. Hughes forced keeper Paul Heald into a top save before Reo-Coker put the Dons in front.

Just before half-time Darren Powell had to go off injured and was replaced by Gary Borrowdale.

In the second half Tommy Black and Reo-Coker went close for their respective teams. Then Butterfield produced a delightful turn and shot to score his first goal since November.

Six minutes after, Freedman scored from the spot - his fifth goal in four games and 150th career goal - after Black had been fouled in the box by Jermaine Darlington. Heald was in outstanding form, denying two Neil Shipperley headers and Black's 25-yard drive.

And in the 89th minute Hughes made it 3-1 and a well-deserved victory with a right-footed shot through a crowded penalty box.

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