Palace battle for a point

April 17 2004

Danny Granville

DANNY GRANVILLE scored his third goal of the season to end the game in a 1-1 draw, against a stubborn Wigan Athletic side.

Both teams played a cagey first half with chances few and far between. The in early stages Wigan's Jimmy Bullard curled an effort which went just past Nico Vaesen's goal.

Neil Shipperley, back from injury, soon went close - almost connecting with a header from Andy Johnson's cross. Tony Popovic also had a good chance with a clean header but that went wide of the mark.

Paul Jewell, Wigan's manager was forced to change his side on the half hour, when Leighton Baines limped off - Paul Mitchell replaced him.

In injury time at the end of the first half, Wigan punished Palace through Nathan Ellington. He controlled the ball just outside the 18 yard box, turned and hit a shot which took a wicked deflection and looped over Vaesen's head into the net.

Palace came out in the second half determined to put the unlucky goal behind them. Mark Hudson, playing in what will probably be his last game for Palace, came close with a volley after Wigan failed to clear.

Aki Riihilahti was replaced by Shaun Derry on the hour. Soon after Palace came their closest to equalising. Johnson found space inside the box, and his shot looked destined for the goal, but rebounded off the far post, and along the goalline to safety.

Iain Dowie took a gamble soon after, and replaced DANNY Butterfield with Dougie Freedman, to make up a three man attack with Shipperley and Johnson.

The switch paid off, and Palace didn't have to wait too long before they finally got the goal they were after.

On 79 minutes, GRANVILLE scored with a header from close range. The goal spurred Palace on, but they couldn't conjour up another goal before the final whistle.

In injury time Jason Roberts was sent off after clashing with Popovic, shortly followed by Jason Jarrett who was sent off for a second bookable offence, when he clipped Freedman's heels.

The draw means that Palace's match against Sunderland on Wednesday night is really a must win match, for them to have any chance of making the play off places come May.

Line-ups:

Crystal Palace: Vaesen, Butterfield, Hudson, Popovic, GRANVILLE, Routledge, Hughes, Riihilahti, Gray, Johnson, Shipperley.

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

Wigan Athletic: Filan, Eaden, Breckin, De Vos, Baines, Liddell, Bullard, Jarrett, Mahon, Ellington, Jason Roberts.

Subs: Mitchell, McCulloch, Walsh, Farrelly, Teale.

Referee: M Thorpe (Suffolk).

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