Walsall 3 Palace 4
Another hat-trick
By Jonathan Burgher
October 30 2002
Striker Andy Johnson inspired a thrilling Palace fightback at the Bescot Stadium with his second hat-trick in four days. Palace came back from 2-0 and 3-1 down to snatch all three points.
| Walsall 3 | Palace 4 |
|---|---|
| Corica 2 | Johnson 29, 64, 90 |
| Junior 5, 53 | Freedman 58 |
It couldn't have started worse for the Eagles who found themselves 2-0 down inside the first five minutes thanks to sloppy defending on their part and lively attacking from Walsall.
Steve Corica found himself unmarked six yards out on 2 minutes and fired home, and three minutes later the Brazilian Junior, who caused Palace problems all night, crashed home a shot from six yards.
Palace struggled in the opening exchanges and had to thank keeper Alex Kolinko for keeping them in the match. He saved well from Junior's point-blank effort on 23 minutes, and produced an even better stop from the Brazilian's fierce volley five minutes later.
That save proved to be the turning point as the Eagles immediately went down the other end and pulled a goal back. Johnson swept in from the left and hit a sweet shot in off the crossbar from just inside the area. Palace began to control possession after this but Walsall went in at the break knowing they should have been out of sight.
On 50 minutes Kolinko had to be at his best again to stop Corica's 20-yard strike, but just two minutes later the Saddlers regained their two-goal lead. It was Junior, scoring his second of the night from 30 yards.
Palace were not to be denied as only five minutes later Dougie Freedman swept home after Johnson's drive was parried by James Walker. On 62 minutes Palace were level when poor marking allowed Johnson to head home Julian Gray's corner.
By this time Junior was off the field, and when the game seemed to be heading for a draw Johnson calmly stroked home the winner from Freedman's pass in the dying seconds.
Trevor Francis was right to acknowledge Palace's great fortune to steal the win, but the lads can only be praised for their fighting spirit.