Palace hold Baggies

September 20 2003

Andy Johnson

A very late Andy Johnson goal earned Palace a point against West Bromwich Albion.

West Brom's Rob Hulse opened the scoring six minutes into the second half, but it was Dougie Freedman who put both teams on level terms in the 59th minute.

Then three minutes before the final whistle when it looked like the Baggies would be taking home the three points, Jason Koumas scored from a free kick.

However, four minutes into stoppage time Andy Johnson banged in a late equaliser to deny West Bromwich Albion a win.

Referee Paul Danson had to be stretchered off in the second half after trying to break up a player fracas in the middle of the pitch which resulted in eight minutes of stoppage time.

Palace started brightly as Freedman had an effort blocked by Phil Gilchrist and Michael Hughes saw his header flash wide. They should have converted their first half possession into a one ot two-goal lead. Cedric Berthelin then denied Lee Hughes with a good save down the other end.

The first goal came in the 51st minute when Hulse ran onto a measured throughball and beat Hayden Mullins for pace before finishing well past Berthelin.

Seven minutes later, Freedman tapped home Johnson's cross from the right and in the inspired Palace nearly went in front with Neil Shipperley and Johnson headers.

The Baggies looked like they had the game won when Koumas fired home a 30 yard free-kick on 87 minutes, but deep into injury time, Johnson fired in a 20 yard leveller for a deserved point for the Eagles.

Crystal Palace: Berthelin, Smith, Borrowdale, Popovic, Mullins, Butterfield, Derry, Hughes, Johnson, Freedman, Shipperley.

Subs: Fleming, Symons, Watson, Routledge, Cronin.

West Brom: Hoult, Haas, Gilchrist, Sigurdsson, Gaardsoe, Johnson, Gregan, Koumas, N'Dour, Hulse, Hughes.

Subs: Clement, O'Connor, Dichio, Dobie, Murphy.

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