March 20 2004

Routledge scores only goal of the game

WAYNE ROUTLEDGE struck the winning goal in Palace's 1-0 victory against league leaders Norwich City and keep their play-off hopes alive.

Palace started brightly in a game played in swirling winds at Selhurst Park. A Neil Shipperley flick-on in the first few minutes found Andy Johnson in space, but he failed to finish.

At around the half hour mark, Mark Hudson went close from a ROUTLEDGE cross. But it was ROUTLEDGE who made Norwich pay on 41 minutes, when he drilled home a Julian Gray cross which was helped on by Shipperley.

Soon after the goal, Norwich almost got back into the game. Keeper Nico Vaesen who was making his Eagles debut on loan from Birmingham, spilled a City free-kick in the 6-yard box, but Palace got enough bodies in the way to deflect a Norwich shot over the bar.

In the second half, Palace continued to pressure the Canaries as Norwich stopper Robert Green saved well from Johnson.

Ex-Palace striker Mathias Svensson brought the best out of Vaesen in the 69th minute, who got down well to save a right-foot shot.

Norwich put on two more forwards, in a bid to grab a goal. Veteran striker Iwan Roberts, and another ex-Palace player, Leon McKenzie. However, despite a few goal-mouth scrambles Palace came away with the vital victory.

Crystal Palace: Vaesen, Butterfield, Popovic, Hudson, Granville, Hughes, Gray, ROUTLEDGE, Leigertwood, Johnson, Shipperley.

Subs: Freedman, Derry, Berthelin, Black, Borrowdale.

Norwich City: Green, Edworthy, Mackay, Fleming, Shackell, Mulryne, Holt, McVeigh, Henderson, Huckerby, Svensson.

Subs: Roberts, Crichton, McKenzie, Francis, Cooper.

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