August 11 2007

Jamie Scowcroft

JAMES SCOWCROFT's hat-trick got Crystal Palace off to a flying start to the new season with a 4-1 win at Southampton.

SCOWCROFT headed Palace in front in the 30th minute by nodding home Stuart Green's inswinging corner at the back post.

Just seconds later, he netted again straight from the Saints kick-off. He latched onto the end of Matt Lawrence's clearance up field and delightfully chipped keeper Bartosz Bialkowski to score.

Saints pulled a goal back in first half stoppage time as Marek Saganowski drilled past Julian Speroni from 12 yards.

SCOWCROFT completed his hat-trick in the 56th minute, taking advantage of a mistake by Bialkowski who spilled the ball and the striker headed into the net.

Within a minute, Clinton Morrison made it 4-1 with a classic close-range strike to complete the rout.

Palace: Speroni, Lawrence, Cort, Hudson, Craig, Green, Watson, Soares, Kennedy (Butterfield 68), Morrison (Kuqi 62), SCOWCROFT (Freedman 75).

Subs Not Used: Flinders, Martin.