Blues 0-1 Palace - Report

By Danny Fleetwood
October 30 2004

Andy Johnson returned to former club Birmingham and earned Crystal Palace a 1-0 win which leaves Blues looking nervously over their shoulder.

Johnson headed to Selhurst Park in the deal which took Clinton Morrison to St Andrews - but he left former boss Steve Bruce watching on enviously as he grabbed the only goal of the game - his eighth of the season - just before the half-time break.

Bruce strengthened his Blues squad with a string of high-profile signings in the summer, including the likes of Jesper Gronkjaer and Emile Heskey.

But they have failed to gel and found themselves just one point better off than Palace before kick-off - with the Eagles' survival hopes seeming to hinge on Johnson's goalscoring prowess.

The hosts totally dictated play in the opening stages but the first chance did not arrive until the 18th minute, when Gabor Kiraly parried Gronkjaer's fierce drive from 18 yards out.

Kiraly then saved from Matthew Upson and Julian Gray shots, while Fitz Hall headed a Dwight Yorke effort off the line as Blues piled on the pressure in search of a breakthrough.

But they were made to pay for their wastefulness on 41 minutes when Wayne Routledge released Johnson and the in-form striker slotted his sixth goal in six games past Maik Taylor.

Blues huffed and puffed after the break, with Kiraly saving a low Mario Melchiot drive with his feet on 54 minutes.

But Palace were still looking dangerous on the break, Routledge firing a low shot just inches wide after a swift counter-attack.

Heskey superbly controlled the ball in the box on 70 minutes but hooked his close-range shot straight at Kiraly, who was then fortunate to see his flapped effort at Gronkjaer's cross drop just wide of the upright.

Blues threw on a string subs in search of an equaliser but it was Melchiot who had the best chance late on, steering a low drive agonisingly wide of the post with Kiraly well beaten.

BluenosesOnline.Com Man Of The Match:
For the second time in a week, Jesper Gronkjaer was our Man Of The Match. He's really improving of late.