October 29 2002

Andy Johnson

Crystal Palace produced a magnificent performance to come back from two goals down in the first five minutes to win 4-3 at Walsall with Andy Johnson scoring his second hat-trick on the spin.

The Eagles got off to a dreadful start and went two goals down in the first five minutes due to some appalling defending.

An unmarked Steve Corica opened the scoring for Walsall in the second minute as he struck from six yards out.

Then just two minutes later, poor defending allowed a cross from the right where Junior side-footed home from close range making it 2-0.

Alex Kolinko had a superb game, making two saves from the lively Junior in the opening 10 minutes.

Opposite number James Walker was then called into action, saving a Dougie Freedman volley on 12.

In the 23rd minute, Kolinko made a point-blank save from Junior to keep the score at 2-0 still. Then five minutes later, he produced a superb stop to keep out Junior's rocket volley.

But Palace struck back straight away as Andy Johnson surged into the box from the left hand side and drilled a left-foot shot into the back of the net in the 29th minute.

Five minutes into the second half, Kolinko was called into action again, saving a Corica 20-yard strike.

But the Saddlers scored again thanks to a 30-yard goal from Brazilian Junior in the 52nd minute to make it 3-1.

Only five minutes afterwards, Walker paried a save out to Freedman who stabbed home the ball home. Then on 64, Johnson levelled the scores as he headed Julian Gray's corner into the back of the net.

He completed his hat-trick, and his seventh goal in three games, in the last minute calmly slotting past Walker from Tommy Black's pass to cap off an outstanding comeback for Palace.

Walsall: Walker, Bazeley, Hay, Roper, Aranalde, Wrack, O'Connor (Sonner 45), Simpson, Junior (Herivelto 76), Leitao, Corica.

Subs not used: Ward, Zdrilic, Barras.

Crystal Palace: Kolinko, Butterfield, Popovic, Powell (Riihilahti 59), Granville, Johnson, Mullins, Derry, Gray, Freedman (Antwi 86), Adebola (Black 77).

Subs not used: Michopoulos, Rubins.

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