August 10 2002

Steve Kabba

Stephen Kabba came off the subs' bench to give Palace the winning goal in a 2-1 win at Preston and the Eagles a great start to the new season.

It was Palace's first victory at Deepdale for 24 years and a big improvement in the performance from the last two visits.

In the opening stages, Eric Skora forced Matt Clarke into a save but Preston spent most of the afternoon hoofing the ball up to their two strikers Richard Cresswell and former Palace man Ricardo Fuller.

Palace were playing it along the floor and Andy Johnson could have won a penalty when his shot hit a Preston defender's arm in the box. Tony Popovic had a shot and then had a header wide of the post.

The Eagles suffered a blow when Johnson had to be stretchered off just before half-time after lengthy treatment following a head injury.

Two minutes after half-time, Skora was sent off for Preston after he held back substitute Tommy Black who was clean through on goal.

Fuller gave Preston the lead in the 69th minute when he ran on to a long ball and looped the ball over Matt Clarke's head.

But just a minute later, Darren Powell on his debut stabbed home the equaliser from close range following Danny Granville's corner.

Preston nearly got a second when Cresswell twice and Chris Lucketti brought great saves from Clarke.

But with just four minutes remaining, Kabba unleashed a firece left-foot drive from 16 yards to seal the game for Palace.

A great day for the Eagles, made even sweeter as Millwall lost 6-0 to Rotherham!

Palace: (3-5-2) Clarke, Fleming, Granville, Popovic, Mullins, Johnson (Black 45), Freedman (Thomson 90), Derry, Butterfield, Riihilahti (Kabba 61), Powell.

Subs not used: Austin, Kolinko.