Wimbledon 2 Palace 2

Pressure for Trev
By Jonathan Burgher
October 22 2002

Palace manager Trevor Francis received a barrage of boos from the Eagles faithful as his side surrendered a two-goal lead in the last fifteen minutes against the Dons in the Selhurst derby.

Palace have now drawn eight of their 13 league games, and really should have taken all three points from this encounter. Though it was Wimbledon who started the brighter as David Connolly hit the post in the opening seconds with just the keeper to beat. Then Alex Tapp sliced wide from a right-wing cross when it was easier to score.

Palace took the lead on 14 minutes when Wayne Routledge's cross was dummied by Dele Adebola. Julian Gray was on hand to fire home. Six minutes later, Adebola hit the bar from Danny Butterfield's corner.

The goalmouth action continued when ex-Eagle Neil Shipperley found space for a shot which forced Nik Michopoulos into a fine save. Both sides continued to create half chances as Palace went in ahead at the break.

The second half was less frenetic than the first but Palace extended their lead on 68 minutes when Adebola's shot was only parried by Kelvin Davis and Andy Johnson fired home the rebound. Johnson should have made it three just a couple of minutes later when he headed straight at Davis with the goal at his mercy.

The game seemed to be petering out when Shipperley pulled a goal back for the Dons on 77 minutes. He beat a nervy Palace offside trap and fired under Michopoulos. Just a minute later the Dons were level when Hayden Mullins woeful backpass was intercepted by substitute Patrick Agyemang, who sidestepped Michopoulos and tapped home.

At this stage Wimbledon looked the likely winners and Agyemang should really have scored with nine minutes to go but he fired horribly wide from 12 yards. The silence that greeted the Wimbledon goals was terribly eerie as Palace fans outnumbered the "home" support by at least 20 to one. Words cannot express the reaction Francis will receive if Palace fail to beat deadly rivals Brighton on Saturday.