August 8 2009

Alan Lee

ALAN LEE rescued a point for Crystal Palace in a 1-1 draw at home to Plymouth.

The target man was a first half substitute for new signing Stern John who had to be stretchered off with a suspected broken elbow.

And LEE opened his account for the season by heading home Victor Moses' cross to earn the Eagles a deserved point.

Palace almost took an early lead in the third minute as John headed just wide from Alassane N'Diaye's cross.

French midfielder N'Diaye was making his Palace debut after agreeing a three-year contract with the club.

But two minutes later, Plymouth got their noses in front as Luke Summerfield's corner found Krisztian Timar who converted from close range.

Palace responded well from going behind with John trying his luck from distance then Romain Larrieu saved from Neil Danns.

Debutant Freddie Sears went close with a good effort, before Clint Hill nodded over from a corner on 27 minutes.

Julian Speroni had to be alert to palm out a shot from the lively Jamie Mackie but Palace suffered a blow on the half hour mark when John had to be taken to hospital after a collision with keeper Larrieu.

Sears thundered a feirce shot that Larrieu pushed away, while opposite number Speroni blocked Rory Fallon's header.

Larrieu made two more good saves to deny Sears and Speroni was on hand to keep out another Fallon effort.

And the Eagles were rewarded for their pressure on 63 minutes when LEE rose above two Plymouth defenders to head Moses' inch-perfect delivery into the roof of the net.

Palace: Speroni, Clyne, Hills, Derry, McCarthy, Danns (Ambrose, 60), John (LEE, 37), Moses (Scannell, 79), Sears, Lawrence, N'Diaye.

Not used: Carle, Flahavan, Butterfield, Ertl.

Plymouth: Larrieu, Paterson, Fletcher, Timar, Mackie, MacLean (Duguid 66), Fallon, McNamee, Sawyer, Seip, Summerfield (Judge, 71)

Not used: Clark, Noone, Johnson, Latheren, Barnes.

Match highlights from the BBC

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