Eagles rue wasted chances

March 11 2003

Andy Johnson

Crystal Palace allowed Ipswich to come back and draw 1-1 depsite having enough chances to kill them off in the first half.

Andy Johnson put Palace ahead in the first half but typically former Eagle Marcus Bent equalised in the second half.

Matt Holland should have done better from close range when he headed over from Jim Magilton's corner on 11 minutes.

Keeper Marshall made an easy save from a long-range Julian Gray effort before on 20 minutes Johnson got his goal.

Tommy Black floated a ball from midfield to the edge of the box and Johnson rose to direct his header over the keeper and into the back of the net.

Marshall saved again from Gray just past the half hour mark and six minutes later, put Shaun Derry's shot around the post when Derry should have scored.

In the second half, Danny Butterfield and Gray had further chances to add to the lead. Ipswich raised their game and started coming at Palace who sat back and let them come at them.

The equaliser looked like it was coming and Bent's powerful header from Magilton's corner made it 1-1 after 66 minutes.

Dougie Freedman had an impact when he came on as a late substitute and his cross found Johnson at the far post, who headed onto the top of the crossbar.

Sub Steve Thomson could have got a late winner but he skied his shot from close range over the bar.

Crystal Palace: Berthelin, Powell, Popovic, Granville, Butterfield, Derry, Mullins, Gray, Black, Johnson, Whelan.

Subs: Kolinko, Freedman, Thomson, Borrowdale, Akinbiyi.

Ipswich Town: Marshall, Wilnis, Holland, Gaardsoe, Makin, Bent, Wright, Magilton, Ambrose, Bent, Naylor.

Subs: Counago, Bowditch, Pullen, Reuser, Richards.

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