July 29 2008

Dougie Freedman

It may have been a 0-0 draw against Fulham but that didn't stop the Crystal Palace fans celebrating Dougie Freedman's 10-year service to the club.

Freedman received a standing ovation as he entered the Selhurst Park pitch - the place where he scored so many brilliant goals during his memorable tenure.

The match failed to live up to the occasion with few chances created by either side. Freedman almost got on the end of the impressive Nick Carle's through-pass early on, new boy Calvin Andrew nodded Danny Butterfield's cross off target, while Fulham's Eddie JOHNSON saw a shot deflected wide.

Highlight of the evening was the introduction of former players: Dean Austin, Phil Barber, Marc Edworthy, Tommy Black, Jim Cannon, Matt Clarke, Curtis Fleming, Dean Gordon, Mark Bright, Danny Granville, Ray Houghton, John Salako, ANDY JOHNSON, Steve Kember, Damien Matthew, Geoff Thomas, Alan Pardew, Aki Riihilahti, ANDY Linighan, Simon Rodger, Wayne Routledge, George Ndah, Dave Martin, Richard Shaw, Neil Shipperley, Jamie Smith, plus ex-boss Dave Bassett and former chairman Ron Noades.

Premier League Fulham began the second period strongly as Erik Nevland nodded over the bar, then Wayne Brown fired into the side netting.

Palace replied with a header from recent buy Simon Thomas that was easy for keeper David Stockdale. Then Victor Moses, Carle and James Dayton blasted over the Fulham bar before Thomas spurned two late headed opportunities.

At full-time, the Palace supporters paid tribute to Eagles legend Freedman with a rousing applause and sang his name - possibly for the last time - as Freedman and his children applauded the Selhurst faithful to cap a special night for the striker.

Palace: Speroni, Hill (Wiggins 80), Butterfield, Fonte (Ertl 46), McCarthy, Derry (Comley 74), Carle (Dayton 76), Soares (Fletcher 74), Ifill (Thomas), Freedman (Palace fan 42, Moses 46), Andrew (Thomas 46).

See photos from the night