January 13 2002

Dougie Freedman

Dougie Freedman scored on his return to the first team, with a goal against bottom placed Stockport.

Freedman's strike came on 67 minutes, after good work by Jovan Kirovski on the right wing.

Palace should have gone in front early on in the first half as Trevor Benjamin and Clinton Morrison caused Stockport problems, but found keeper Andy Dibble in fine form.

Benjamin hit the post with a rasping left foot shot, Dibble saved a Clinton Morrison effort and Freedman and Morrison had more chances to break the deadlock.

Stockport were restricted to two weak efforts from Kevin Ellison which were easy for Alex Kolinko.

In the 58th minute, Stockport went close when Damian Delaney's free-kick was parried out by Kolinko only as far as Jon Daly who saw his shot saved.

Substitute Kirovski then crossed for Freedman to score with a first-time effort and shortly afterwards was substituted for tactical reasons. He left the field clearly angry at the decison.

The Hatters could have got a point from their efforts when Luke Beckett's shot hit the post and the ball was eventually scrambled clear from the goal line.

The win puts Palace eighth in the Division One table.