April 19 2003

Steve Kember

Crystal Palace failed to win their first game since the departure of Trevor Francis as Rotherham held the Eagles at 0-0.

Not much seems to have changed since Francis and Crystal Palace parted company last Friday.

Rotherham's Alan Lee struck the woodwork after just 73 seconds as the Millers had Palace rattled early on.

Richard Barker twice went close and John Mullin mishit an easy effort which went straight at Alex Kolinko as the visitors dominated the opening 20 minutes.

Ben Watson nearly got the opening goal on 21 minutes for the Eagles but his 25-yard free-kick was turned around the post by Millers keeper Ian Gray.

Dougie Freedman then fired a low shot wide and Julian Gray had a "goal" ruled out for off-side.

Shaun Derry went wide and Danny Butterfield gave the keeper a save to make before Julian Gray had a shot blocked by a defender.

On 71, Freedman skied a close-range effort over the bar from a Gray corner and the Millers defended well to eventually end the game with a point.

Starting teams:

Crystal Palace: Kolinko, Powell, Symons, Mullins, Borrowdale, Butterfield, Watson, Derry, Gray, Adebola, Freedman.

Subs: Granville, Thomson, Black, Routledge, Berthelin.

Rotherham: Gray, Shaun Barker, Swailes, Branston, McIntosh, Sedgwick, Daws, Mullin, Hurst, Lee, Richard Barker.

Subs: Robins, Warne, Talbot, Hudson, Byfield.

Today's football results and scorers

Division One table

Palace 2002/3 team stats

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