Wanderers 3, Crystal Palace 3

THE manager calls it a nasty habit but the late goal syndrome that has struck Wanderers three times in a week is becoming something of a curse, writes BEN Sports Editor Peter Mensforth.

Ironically with three minutes to play against a Crystal Palace side that had lost its previous six games it looked as if the players had exorcised the devils that have conspired to rob them so cruelly of points over the last few fixtures.

Without playing particularly well they looked to have ended a spirited Palace challenge to take a 3-1 lead that, had it remained, would have a gone a long way to restoring the early season impetus that had fans thinking of promotion.

Instead Wanderers were hit first by a Dougie Freedman goal and, if that had seemed only a mere consolation effort, they were stunned by Clinton Morrison's equaliser two minutes into injury time.

Neil Ruddock, sidelined by injury and one of a number of Palace players vilified by manager Alan Smith in midweek newspaper articles, said the draw was as good as a win for his side.

For Wanderers it was more like defeat.

After winning seven of their first nine games they've now won only one of the last seven and the manager admits it's a worry.

And the major concern is that it's the experienced players in the side who are being caught out. Players who should know how to defend the last five minutes of a game.

The back four of Gudni Bergsson, Mark Fish, Robbie Elliott and Ian Marshall who were left with the task of safeguarding winning points, twice failed to respond at crucial times as Palace threw everyone forward in search of a goal.

They didn't defend an 87th minute near post corner when the ball was played across goal to the unmarked Freedman then, after the fourth official had signalled four minutes of injury time, there was no challenge again as Clinton Morrison met Julian Gray's cross from the left.

The result could have contrasting fortunes on the two sides. Palace, who some observers believe are in a false position at the bottom of the table, could now start to pick up results but the effect it will have on a Wanderers side, whose confidence looks already somewhat brittle, remains to be seen.

Certainly the manager will have his work cut out restoring belief in the minds of his players,

He acknowledges that the late goals are destroying their confidence. "It's become a nasty habit that we have to eradicate but the problem now is that everytime we get to the late stages of a game the players are going to be thinking about it."

The effect of the earlier disappointments against Stockport and Watford was clearly seen as Wanderers struggled to put their game together. They never got into passing movements and for a team that usually plays better with the ball at their feet, they spent too much time chasing high balls that never really troubled the Palace defence.

Palace were allowed space and time to push forward and in the opening minutes Jaaskelainen was startled by an explosive shot from former Liverpool player Steve Staunton before diving full length to push away a Freedman shot that looked to be curling inside the far post.

In contrast the Wanderers front trio of Ian Marshall, Ricardo Gardner and Bo Hansen never really threatened although Gardner looked the man most likely to as he continued his impressive return after injury.

Instead it was left to Gudni Bergsson to hit the vital opening goal as for once Wanderers profited indirectly from a corner.

That rarely seems to happen these days but when the ball was cleared from one such set-piece, Fish quickly took the throw-in and Nolan's flicked header found the captain still lurking in the six yard box.

Even so that failed to raise the level of performance and they were punished when Freedman was left at the far post to knock in Black's cross from the right.

There was a touch of misfortune for Wanderers with that as Simon Charlton who was covering Black pulled up sharply with a groin injury leaving the Palace man free to deliver the ball to the waiting Freedman.

Charlton's injury forced Wanderers to re-shuffle in midfield with Elliott going to left back to make room for Gareth Farrelly and ten minutes into the second half the manager made another switch as Ricketts was introduced for Nolan.

Two long range efforts from Frandsen and Farrelly brought good saves from Kolinko as Wanderers started to enjoy more possession than at any other stage of the match and after Hansen had seen one effort disallowed for offside, they finally struck with two goals in as many minutes that should have wrapped up the points.

The first came from Marshall's determination to win the ball in a challenge on the keeper, Michael Ricketts tapping the rebound into an empty net before Per Frandsen fizzed a low drive just inside the post from the edge of the area.

That should have been that but the back four was changed again as Rankin came on for Barness, forcing Marshall to operate at centre back alongside Fish with Bergsson taking the vacant right back spot.

What they failed to respond to was Palace's final throw of the dice. At 3-1 down with nothing to lose, the Londoners threw men forward and used the full backs as wing backs to surge into the Wanderers half.

But for all that it really was down to poor defending. The lack of a challenge on the goalscorers is of concern to the management and after seeming grinding out a result, if not a good performance, Wanderers let points and a chance to rebuild confidence slip away again.