April 14 2001

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace plunged deeper into relegation trouble after losing 4-1 to fellow strugglers Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. Clinton Morrison gave Palace a dream start when he put Palace ahead after just two minutes but Wednesday came back. DEAN AUSTIN missed a penalty.

The Eagles had a dream start when Clinton Morrison tapped in from close range on two minutes.

The lead lasted less than 30 minutes as Efan Ekoku's header found his way into the Palace net.

Eight minutes later Wednesday took the lead through Belgian striker Gilles de Bilde.

Seven minutes before half time Palace were given a penalty after Dutchman Gerald Sibon had brought down DEAN AUSTIN in the box. The defender decided to take the penalty himself but it was too weak and Owls goalkeeper Kevin Pressman had no trouble saving it.

On the stroke of half time Wednesday made it 3-1 when Sibon scored from a Stuart Ripley pass.

After the break David Hopkin had a chance to pull one back for Palace but his shot was deflected for a corner.

But as the visitors pushed forward it was the home side who went on to score on 63 minutes.It was Ripley who scored on his debut and gave The Owls a comfortable 4-1 lead.

Hopkin was denied his first goal for Palace by Pressman in the dieing minutes of the game.

The Eagles now find themselves third from bottom with 42 points from 41 games.