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Palace 3-4 Town
Palace 3-4 Town
Wednesday, 22nd Oct 2003 10:27

Town came from two goals behind to win an astonishing game at Crystal Palace 4-3. The Blues were two down in 15 minutes but Richard Naylor's goals put them on terms by the break. Pablo Couñago thought he'd won it before a Freedman penalty drew Palace level but Shefki Kuqi grabbed a dramatic winner.

Skipper Jim Magilton passed his fitness test and kept his midfield place, the Blues' only change being Ian Westlake coming in for the injured Alan Mahon.

Jermaine Wright hit a weak shot in the fourth minute which was little trouble for Cedric Berthelin. However, a goal was only seconds in coming, but sadly for Town it was at the other end.

Dougie Freedman slipped the ball through Town's less than organised defence and Andy Johnson ran on to lash the ball into the roof of Kelvin Davis' net. It was a bad goal to concede, particularly so early on at a ground where the Blues have rarely enjoyed the best of fortunes.

Palace's Tommy Black went close to a second on eight but his shot went over the bar with Town's defence again looking decidedly ropy. Two minutes later there were calls for a penalty from Eagles' fans when Matt Richards challenged Wayne Routledge inside the area. Referee Lee Cable felt the ball had been won by the Blues' full-back.

Jermaine Wright tested keeper Berthelin slightly more with his second effort of the game, his 20-yard chip forcing the stopper to tip the ball over the bar.

But it was Palace who would score the game's second goal, in the 15th minute. Several Town defenders failed to clear the ball from the edge of the area and Neil Shipperley's shot deflected through to Dougie Freedman who planted the ball past Davis on the turn.

This was hardly the start the Blues had been after, two defensive calamities giving them a massive hill to climb before they had even got going. However, as the half wore on Town gradually started to impose their passing on the match, despite a less than perfect playing surface.

In the 24th minute good work from Westlake and Richards down the left led to Pablo Couñago teeing up Jim Magilton on the edge of the area. However, the Northern Irishman's shot was deflected for a corner on the Town left.

The Blues' skipper took the kick himself and found Richard Naylor who had made a run from the penalty spot to the front post, from where he flicked the ball over the keeper and into the net, right in front of the Town support.

On the half hour Chris Bart-Williams picked up a yellow card for a foul on Andy Johnson in the centre circle, although it appeared that Johnson had handled the ball while taking it down. It was Bart-Williams' fifth booking of the season and he now faces a one-match ban.

Andy Johnson was proving the home side's biggest threat and on 32 he forced Kelvin Davis into a save. For Town, Shefki Kuqi came close to an equaliser when he lobbed Berthelin only for Shaun Derry to clear.

Soon after Tommy Black went into the referee's book for a foul on Shefki Kuqi and Fabian Wilnis became the second Town player yellow carded, a touch harshly for an aerial challenge with Black.


With a minute left before the break Tony Popovic also got himself in the book for a late challenge on Ian Westlake just to the right of centre, 35 yards out from the Palace goal. Jim Magilton sent in a cross which Sheki Kuqi headed across the box to Jermaine Wright.

The midfielder's shot flashed from the right and struck the left post with Richard Naylor the first to react to put the Blues back on terms.

There was just time for Tommy Black to send a dangerous-looking shot flashing past Kelvin Davis' post before the referee blew for half-time.

Town had started the half in the worst possible way but had gradually got themselves on top and conjured two goals from set-pieces. Despite this it was still a largely under par performance.

The second period, however was virtually all Ipswich from start to finish. The period started with Richard Naylor picking up his fifth yellow card of the season, earning him a one game ban. Naylor had mis-timed a tackle on Andy Johnson on the Palace left.

Two minutes later Neil Shipperley got his name in referee Lee Cable's increasingly full notebook for dissent.

The Blues were on top but were yet to turn their possession into goals, Shefki Kuqi's 50th minute shot wide the first real effort of the half.

Two minutes later Pablo Couñago came even closer, Bethelin tipping his 20-yarder round the post.

Crystal Palace almost profited from a Matt Richards error in the 54th minute but Kelvin Davis was equal to Neil Shipperley's shot from a tight angle on the Palace right.

But it was mainly Town and Jim Magilton ought to have got closer to Berthelin's goal with a 59th minute chip from the edge of the box.

Ian Westlake wasn't far from his first senior goal when Pablo Couñago played in a ball from the right towards the midfielder. However, the ball seemed to take an age to reach the youngster and by the time it arrived there were defenders in place to deflect his shot wide.

Magilton and Wilnis both hit long distance strikes over the bar for the Blues while Shipperley had a rare Palace effort saved by Davis.

With 14 minutes remaining Ian Westlake went as close as anyone with a deflected cross from the left which almost looped over Bethelin, the keeper tipping the ball over the bar.

A minute later Westlake would be involved in Town's third goal. The youngster ran on to a Richards ball down the left and sent in a low cross which Couñago slid past the keeper from six yards.

The Blues now looked almost certain to win, and deservedly so. Shefki Kuqi almost added a fourth but Berthelin tipped his header away from goal but only to Couñago. The Spaniard reached the ball at a difficult angle and put his shot wide.

That was Couñago's last contribution to the game and Tommy Miller replaced him, the Blues moving to a one-man strike force.

Town continued to look for a fourth goal despite the less positive appearance of their formation and Fabian Wilnis was not far from a first goal of the season with a low shot which Berthelin pushed wide.

With three minutes remaining the promising Wayne Routledge took the ball into the box on the left only for Tommy Miller to launch himself into as rash a challenge as you'll see, the youngster sent sprawling on the deck.

There were few Town complaints about Lee Cable's decision to award a penalty, which Dougie Freedman duly put past Kelvin Davis. It seemed that Palace would gain a point their second half hardly deserved, however the Blues were back in front within a minute.

After losing the ball from the kick-off, Tommy Miller, clearly spurred into action by his error on the penalty, won it back and sent a well-weighted ball for Shefki Kuqi to chase. The loanee striker beat Berthelin to the ball and deftly flighted it over the keeper and into the empty net.

Kuqi ran away to the left and slid on his stomach in celebration, the rest of his team-mates all jumping on top of him.

Not long after the whistle went on Town's latest stunning comeback. Although the odds weren't quite as stacked against them as against Sheffield United at Portman Road last season, the fight back was equally spirited.

Richard Naylor took his goals well, keeping him in near the top of the Blues' scoring charts, while Pablo Couñago will have been glad to have scored after a couple of games where he has missed a number of chances.

Shefki Kuqi may not have a reputation as a regular scorer with Sheffield Wednesday but his three goals in six-and-a-half games have been more than welcome, in addition to his hold-up play, aerial prowess and massive energy.

While the overall first half performance was far from satisfactory, particularly the first 15 minutes, the second was a far more dominant and nearer the form shown in recent games.

Eight wins in nine games now and the fine run continues. Preston, Gillingham and Derby follow, all games where the Blues will be hopeful of keeping the good results flowing.

For the first time this season chants of “we're going up!” were heard from the Town support and, given current results, a serious promotion challenge looks to be on the cards.

Town: Davis, Wilnis, Richards, Naylor, Santos, Magilton, Bart-Williams, Wright, Westlake, Couñago (Miller 81), Kuqi.


Photo: Action Images



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