February 7 2004

Tony Popovic

Palace created a bit of history by beating Sheffield United 3-0, with goals from Andy Johnson, Tony Popovic and Neil Shipperley.

The victory was new record for the club - five consecutive league away wins in a row.

Palace got off to a good start as Popovic went inches wide with a header in only the second minute of the match.

Sheffield United hit back with a 20-yard shot by Michael Tonge, which whistled past Cedric Berthelin's goal.

Shortly afterwards, Danny Butterfield hit a shot from nowhere, which beat United's Paddy Kenny, but hit the post.

However Palace made the breakthrough when Johnson scored his 21st goal of the season in the 43rd minute. He converted a deflected Danny Granville cross to give Palace a 1-0 lead at half-time.

In the second half, Palace went further ahead in the 56th minute, when Kenny flapped at a Wayne Routledge cross, and Popovic was on hand to nod the ball into an empty net.

Julian Gray almost made it 3-0, when he was put through on goal, but he lofted the ball over the bar.

United tried in vain to get back into the match, and were punished in the 87th minute when Shaun Derry, on as a second half substitute, crossed a great ball into the box, and Shipperley scored to make it a very satisfying 3-0 away victory.

Sheff Utd: Kenny, Kozluk, Phil Jagielka, Page, Wright, Shaw, McCall, Montgomery, Tonge, Peschisolido, Sturridge. Subs: Allison, Whitlow, Lester, Robinson, Ndlovu.

Crystal Palace: Berthelin, Granville, Butterfield, Popovic, Hudson, Riihilahti, Hughes, Gray, Routledge, Johnson, Shipperley. Subs: Freedman, Derry, Black, Borrowdale, Leigertwood.

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