February 22 2003

Tommy Black

A woeful Palace failed to break down struggling Sheffield Wednesday, missing out on a good chance to catch up with the play-off pack.

Wednesday had the worst away record in the division and Palace only looked like winning it in the last five minues.

They has series of successive corners and Tommy Black hit the crossbar after a good run into the box from the right.

The visitors attacked Palace from the kick-off but Palace responded with an Andrew Johnson volley which went into row Z and a Darren Powell header over the bar from Black's corner.

Wednesday were more dominant in midfield and Trevor Francis made a good move by taking off the recalled Steve Thomson, who was ineffective, and brought on wonderkid Wayne Routledge in the first half.

Ever-present Danny Butterfield moved into the centre with Routledge going in as right-wingback and improved things immediately by running at defenders.

The match continued to be a dour affair, just like last season's, with few chances created by either side.

Dele Adebola came on for Routledge towards the second half and played better than Ade Akinbiyi who made his first start of the season.

In the closing stages Palace should have won the game with Black's shot which crashed off the woodwork and they badly need a clinical finisher if they are to get into the play-offs.

Palace: Berthelin, Granville, Powell, Mullins, Butterfield, Thomson (Routledge 33 (Adebola 68 )), Riihilahti, Gray (Borrowdale 88), Johnson, Akinbiyi, Black.

Subs not used: Kolinko, Antwi.

Sheff Wed: Evans, Smith, Maddix, Monk, Westwood, McLaren, Quinn, Johnston, Barry-Murphy, Reddy (Crane 89), Owusu (Kuqi 81).

Subs not used: Haslam, Stringer, Green.

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