Scowcroft secures a point for Palace

August 26 2006

Jamie Scowcroft

Jamie Scowcroft's second half header earnt Palace a 2-2 draw with Burnley.

Peter Taylor reverted to a traditional 4-4-2 formation this afternoon, bringing in Dougie Freedman to partner Scowcroft up front.

Both sides had early chances, with Freedman going the closest for Palace in the 15 minute, when he hit a crisp volley from a Scowcroft header which whistled wide of Burnley's goal.

Burnley upped the tempo shortly afterwards and had a few good chances to score, and the pressure paid off in the 23 minute when Alan Mahon slotted home after good work from Steve Jones on the left.

Palace came very close to equalising in the 35th minute, when Scowcroft hit the post with a rasping shot.

Taylor decided to keep the team as they were after the break, and it wasn't long before the equaliser came.

Mark Kennedy floated a free kick into the box, and the impressive Leon Cort looped a header past Brian Jensen in the Burnley goal.

Unfortunately Palace were behind again shortly afterwards, when Kyle Lafferty beat Danny Granville to a ball from the left and poked the ball past Gabor Kiraly.

Carl Fletcher was replaced by Michael Hughes on 59 minutes, and the Northern Ireland midfielder sparked a fight back for the Eagles.

On 74 minutes Scrowcroft got Palace's second goal of the game, heading in a Jobi McAnuff cross from 6 yards out.

Burnley almost snatched a third when Stephen Foster's header thumped against the underside of the crossbar, but failed to cross the line.

In the last 10 minutes Palace threw everything they had in an attempt to grab the winning goal.

McAnuff's fantastic run from the left, skipping past three challenges, almost resulted in a goal but for a brilliant save by Jensen.

Jensen was on hand to save Burnley again minutes later when he saved Mark Hudson's goal bound header from a Kennedy corner.

In the final minute it was Kennedy who threatened to score a wonder goal from 30 yards out, but yet again Jensen was there to push the shot over the bar.

Crystal Palace 2

Cort 48, Scowcroft 72

Burnley 2

Mahon 23, Lafferty 52

Teams:

Crystal Palace: G Kiraly, D Granville, M Hudson, L Cort, D Butterfield, C Fletcher, T Soares, M Kennedy, J McAnuff, J Scowcroft, D Freedman.

Subs: S Flinders, M Lawrence, C Morrison, M Hughes, M Reich.

Burnley: B Jensen, J Harley, J McGreal, F Sinclair, M Duff, M Hyde, J O'Connor, A Mahon, S Jones, A Gray, K Lafferty.

Subs: W Elliott, G Branch, J Spicer, G Noel-Williams, S Foster.

Referee: L Probert.

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