August 13 2002

Tony Popovic

Crystal Palace only managed to get a 1-1 draw from their first home game of the season against Bradford City.

They can count themselves unlucky as they deserved to get the three points, but sloppy defending by Danny Granville and no killer instinct in front of goal cost them.

Tony Popovic's equaliser came 10 minutes from time from Danny Butterfield's cross on the right.

Bradford had taken the lead four minutes before through substitute Andy Tod.

Palace started the game well and had several opportunities to take the lead.

Dougie Freedman and Andy Johnson looked lively and the former had a great chance to score when he rounded Gary Walsh but saw his shot hit a defender's head.

Shaun Derry had a good game on his home debut and had two headers easily saved by Walsh.

Bradford's Paul Evans then had a 25-yard free-kick, which was destined for the top right corner, superbly saved by Matt Clarke.

Dean Austin had to replace the injured Curtis Fleming, who went off with a head injury on around the half hour mark.

Palace re-shaped and continued to dominate proceedings as Bradford defended solidly. Palace did everything but find that killer final touch to score.

It didn't help matters when the referee seemed to give almost everything Bradford's way. Trevor Francis was furious with some of his decisions and was sent off after remonstarting with the ref.

Then when Bradford scored, it looked like the Yorkshire side would go home with an undeserved three points.

Granville stupidly dived in on the left of the penalty box and allowed the cross from Jamie Lawrence to get to Tod who netted from close range in the roof of the net.

Then Popovic popped up near the end to head home a well-deserved equaliser for the Eagles, but the game should have been already wrapped up by then.