August 27 2002

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace were unable to gain their first home win of the season against Division One new boys Leicester in a 0-0 draw.

The visitors were down to ten men in the last five minutes of the game after Gerry Taggart got sent off for elbowing.

A few minutes previously, he was booked for a two-footed lunge on Dougie Freedman.

In an open first half, Andrew Johnson went close with a header in the 16th minute from Danny Granville's cross.

Dougie Freedman, who had a quiet game, somehow put a free header wide when he had all the time in the world to place it into the net.

Shortly after, Johnson had a shot narrowly wide of Ian Walker's post. Inbetween his efforts, Paul Dickov forced Matt Clarke into a decent save.

Palace looked dangerous from corners as Tony Popovic had two or three headers narrowly wide of the post.

In the second half, Dickov and Alan Rogers went close and down the other end Hayden Mullins had a close-range effort cleare away, while sub Dele Adebola headed straight to Walker.

Dickov had a spectacular overhead kick go inches over the bar and Mullins saw a weak shot go straight to Walker.

Palace piled on the pressure for a goal to break the deadlock and against 10 men - the third time this season - couldn't get that elusive winning goal.

Palace: Clarke, Fleming, Granville, Butterfield, Popovic, Mullins, Johnson, Freedman, Derry, Thomson, Powell.

Subs: Kolinko, Riihilahti, Austin, Routledge, Adebola.

Leicester: Walker, Impey, Taggart, Scowcroft, Rogers, Elliott, Benjamin, Dickov, Stewart, Lewis, McKinlay.

Subs: Price, Oakes, Heath, Stevenson, Williamson.

Bookings: Taggart (81 mins)

Sent Off: Taggart (85 mins)

Referee: P. Joslin

Attendance: 15440