November 3 2001

Scored a goal

A Crystal Palace side managed by Steve Kember and Terry Bullivant could not take all three points from the Bescot Stadium today.

The match ended in a 2-2 draw with goals from David Hopkin and Dougie Freedman for Palace.

Walsall opened the scoring after 25 minutes when Tony Barras headed a Zigor Aranalde free kick past Palace keeper Matt Clarke.

Five minutes later Palace equalised through David Hopkin. A Simon Rodger corner was cleared, but only as far as Hopkin hit the net with a low drive through a crowd of players.

On the stroke of half-time it was The Saddlers who took the lead again. Another free kick and again Barras who scored with a header.

After the break The Eagles went searching for the equaliser with Clinton Morrison missing several chances to put the sides level.

With ten minutes to go it was Dougie Freedman who levelled the score latching onto a pass from Hopkin and firing past Wallsall keeper James Walker.

Morrison could have won it for the visitors, but his effort was too weak and it was easily saved by Walker.

Crystal Palace remain on third place in Division One after this draw.

Walsall: Walker, Brightwell, Carbon, Barras, Aranalde, Wrack, Bennett, Thogersen, Byfield, Angell, Matias. Subs: Harper, Gadsby, Herivelto, Simpson, Ofodile.

Crystal Palace: Clarke, Austin, Hopkin, Mullins, Rodger, Berhalter, Riihilahti, Kirovski, Gray, Freedman, Morrison. Subs: Kolinko, Black, Harrison, Thomson, Routledge.

Referee: G Cain (Bootle).