November 26 2003

Dougie took a dive

Another point from a solid performance in Saturday’s bore draw, will not have many Palace fans calling for Kit Symons to get the job.

But the first away clean sheet since Brighton in March has at least made some of us sit up and take notice.

You would expect defensive solidity from a player-managing centre half, and although by no means water-tight, the whole team's application in keeping Walsall out was encouraging.

But there was little or no encouragement at the other end of the field - except the effervescent AJ. Palace created few chances, and the ones there were fell to Watson, and Butterfield. Neil Shipperley was totally anonymous again.

How our hero Dougie Freedman has scored ten goals this term I don’t know, but it is no surprise three have come from the spot.

Dougie's theatrical first half dive not only cost him a yellow, it totally wasted his only chance. Having won the race for the ball, the cutest of chips lifted the ball over Walker within the striker's range.

But rather than trying to reach it, and perhaps genuinely being taken down, our Dougie planted both feet and rose like a Dolphin to avoid any contact….. a 9.9 on my card, but nil point on Mr Leake's.

Following AJ's yellow last week, could the game be up for Palace’s serial tumblers?

The news that Ben Watson won’t sign a new deal under the terms currently on offer will sicken most Palace fans. Out of contract in the summer, the 18-year-old is widely viewed as the heart of Palace’s future team.

Last summer, right back David Hunt, also 18, left Palace with just a few first team games under his belt because he got a better offer from... wait for it…. Third Division strugglers Leyton Orient.

To make matters worse the suspicion that his refusal to sign saw Watson dropped after he scored at Millwall and not picked again by Kember, suggests the manager did not exactly have a free reign when selecting his team.

Palace take on Coventry City at Selhurst Park on Saturday, if you cannot make it to the ground, join me live online from 3pm. Then on Wednesday, December 3, the Carling Cup fourth round sees us travel to Villa, looking for another memorable cup upset. If you did not get a ticket, join me from 7.45pm.

Log onto: www.croydonguardian.co.uk/eagleeye/live/