August 8 2006

Dougie Freedman

What a difference a Dougie makes. For the second time in four days, the Doog turned the match for the Eagles after coming on at half-time, Palace winning 3-1, writes Peter Gillman.

Three goals in a breathless ten minutes after Palace had been outplayed in the first half sent the Eagles top of the league before a jubilant 18,000 crowd.

Southend had the better first half, ex-Eagle Lee Bradbury wasting a great opening with a poor header as early as the first minute. The impressive Freddy Eastwood finally put Southend ahead when he shot in off the post on 43 minutes.

Eagles manager Peter Taylor replaced the ineffective Jon Macken with Freedman at half-time and the game immediately swung Palace’s way.

On 50 minutes Leon Cort nodded home a Mark Kennedy corner on the far post. Two minutes later Jamie Scowcroft won a narrow offside decision to put the Doog clear on the right. Dougie dinked a sumptuous shot past Southend keeper Flahavan into the far corner of the net.

On 60 minutes Hudson rose to another Kennedy corner to head home from the penalty spot. The goal effectively ended the match, although the Doog continued to make openings by combining with Scowcroft and McAnuff.

Of the four Palace newcomers, Scowcroft won ball after ball in the air and looks to have clicked with the Doog.

Carl Fletcher was strong in midfield and Kennedy shows he can take good corners.

Leon Cort, judged man of the match, was a tower in defence and came up for corners with telling effect. And of the old guard, it was a delight to see the Doog firing at his inspirational best.

Palace: Kiraly; Butterfield, Cort, Hudson, Granville; Soares, Fletcher (sub Watson 78), Kennedy, McAnuff; Macken (sub Freedman 45), Scowcroft.

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