Two late goals costs Wanderers dear

WANDERERS, apparently leading comfortably with less than three minutes to go, conceded two late goals as struggling Palace snatched a late, late point.

Wanderers welcomed back Ian Marshall after he had missed the midweek defeat at Watford with a groin strain. Michael Ricketts was the unlucky man to step down to the substitutes bench.

Manager Sam Allardyce also decided to leave Isaiah Rankin on the bench to allow Marshall, Kevin Nolan and Bo Hansen to play upfront.

Palace arrived at the Reebok after suffering six successive defeats that prompted manager Alan Smith to question the players' commitment in midweek.

In the Palace side was the familiar figure of former Wanderers midfield man Jamie Pollock, who captained the side, while Manchester City's Andy Morrison, currently on loan at Selhurst Par, was also in the starting line-up.

Palace had the best of the opening minutes of the game with Wanderers threatening little up front.

Jaaskelainen was almost caught off guard in the fifth minute as Staunton fired in a shot that the keeper could only parry behind for corner but minutes later the Finn was alert to push away a

curling shot from Freeman that looked bound for the far corner.

Wanderers took the lead against the run of play. A Frandsen corner was knocked away and from Fish's throw-in, Nolan's flick header knocked the ball into the six yard box where Gudni Bergsson stabbed the ball past the helpless goalkeeper,

The lead flattered the home side but Palace deservedly pulled level in the 41st minute when Black's cross to the far post was headed in from close range by the unchallenged Freedman.

The second half followed in the same vein with Wanderers struggling to find their rhythm but Frandsen gave a glimpse of what was to come as he fired in a thundering 25 yard shot that Kolinko did well to tip over the bar.

Then in the space of two minutes the game is seemingly won as Wanderers fire in two quick goals.

First Marshall's 75th minute challenge on the keeper sees the ball spin clear and sub Michael Ricketts is left with a tap-in into an empty net.

Two minutes later Gardner lays the ball off for Frandsen who fires into the bottom corner to give Wanderers some breathing space.

But there's a sting in the tale as Palace reply with Freedman's second goal then two and half minutes into stoppage time Clinton Morrison forces in Julian Gray's cross to give Palace their first point in seven games.

ACTION POINTS

3 Wanderers force two early corners but Marshall had his shot blocked off the first then Bergsson puts a header high over the bar.

5 Steve Staunton fires in a 30 yard thunderbolt that Jaaskelainen can only parry over the bar. From the resulting corner Andy Morrison puts his header wide.

11 Freedman curls in a shot to the far post that forces Jaaskelainen into a diving save.

GOAL!

20 Frandsen's corner is knocked awayinto touch but Kevin Nolan flicks on Fish's throw in into the six yard box and Bergsson sticks out a leg to stab the ball past Kolinko.

23 Clinton Morrison fires an angled shot past Jaaskelainen but just beyond the far post.

32 Hansen makes a strong run into the Palace area after picking up Frandsen's pass but his shot is blocked for a corner.

GOAL!

41 Charlton pulls up with a hamstring injury leaving Black with th space to fire over a cross from the right that finished with Dougie Freedman rising unchallenged to head past Jaaskelainen

Half-time: 1-1

50 Frandsen fires in a 25 yard shot that Kolinko tips over the bar

65 Farrelly's cross field ball finds Hansen who cuts inside and moves into the penalty area but is unable to get a shot on target as the cover moves in

67 Anthony Barness creates space for farrelly to fire in from 25 yards but Kolinko goes full-legth to save.

68 Marshall gets a knock down from Frandsen but can't get in a clear-cut shot.

71 Palace look menacing as Wanderers are unable to clear the ball from the penalty area but danger is averted when Clinton Morrison scuffs his shot.

72 Hansen puts the ball into the Palace net but is clearly offside

GOAL!

75 Marshall challenges keeper Kolinko and the ball runs clear leaving sub Michael Ricketts with the easy task of firing into an empty net.

GOAL!

77 Gardner sets up Frandsen who fires inside the keeper's right hand post.

GOAL!

87 Palace take a short corner and the ball is knocked to Freedman who steals in to beat Jaaskelainen

GOAL!

90 Clinton Morrison forces in Julian Gray's cross

WANDERERS: 4-3-3

JUSSI JAASKELAINEN

ANTHONY BARNESS

MARK FISH

GUDNI BERGSSON

SIMON CHARLTON

KEVIN NOLAN

PER FRANDSEN

ROBBIE ELLIOTT

BO HANSEN

IAN MARSHALL

RICARDO GARDNER

Subs; Banks, Farrelly (for Charlton 42mins), Ricketts (for Nolan 55), Passi, Rankin. (for Barness 78)

CRYSTAL PALACE

5-3-2

ALEX KOLINKO

DEAN AUSTIN

HAYDEN MULLINS

ANDY MORRISON

STEVE STAUNTON

SIMON RODGER

TOMMY BLACK

ANDREJS RUBINS

JAMIE POLLOCK

CLINTON MORRISON,

DOUGIE FREEMAN.

Subs: Jamie Smith, Wayne Carlisle, Mikael Forssell (for Andy Morrison 81), Matt Gregg, Julian Gray (for Rubins 76mins).

Referee: Paul Danson (Leicester)

Attendance: 12,879

Bookings: Farrelly 79

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