Could this be the long awaited year they go back up to PL where they belong? 
Saturday, May 1, 2004
Crystal Palace 1-0 Walsall: FT Report
PA
Andy Johnson fired Crystal Palace into the top six with a controversial late penalty to leave Walsall staring relegation in the face after a fifth straight defeat.
Johnson's 28th league goal settled a match utterly dominated by the home side but was tough on Walsall, who argued long and hard that Tommy Black had dived to win the spot kick, the only goal of the game.
Black had only been on the pitch for two minutes when he went down easily under a challenge from Paul Ritchie, and referee David Pugh pointed straight to the spot.
Saddlers goalkeeper Jimmy Walker had been inspired all game to deny Palace from a host of chances, and he saved Johnson's initial kick only to watch helplessly as the First Division top scorer stroked home from the rebound.
The Saddlers came with a negative approach, getting men behind the ball, and with Lee Bradbury a lone figure up front, they looked a side who had failed to score in four games.
The tension of their situation was beginning to show for Walsall and Walker was at his best twice in quick succession to keep the score goalless in the 31st minute.
Aki Riihilahti won a free kick outside the penalty area and Walker acrobatically tipped Neil Shipperley's goalbound header over from Butterfield's delivery, which deflected off the wall.
From the resulting corner by Shaun Derry, Butterfield was allowed the time to pick out Shipperley again, but this time Walker tipped his header around the far post.
Walker then denied Johnson with a fine leg save when the First Division top scorer was clean through from a Nico Vaesen goal kick.
Johnson also headed wide after Popovic's flick-on from Riihilahti's right-wing cross, but Darren Wrack had a glorious chance for Walsall before the interval, just failing to make contact with Mark Wright's pull-back from the byline.
It was Riihilahti's turn to be denied by Walker after the break, the Finn's header from Granville's free kick drifting wide of the far post after a vital touch from the keeper.
Bradbury finally had Walsall's first shot on target in the 66th minute, and his effort was quickly followed by a long-range shot from Wright, but both were tame.
The game then exploded into life when Ritchie brought down Black to concede a penalty with five minutes remaining.
Walsall were furious but Johnson stepped up coolly to score after Walker had saved his initial spot-kick.
Saturday, May 1, 2004
Crystal Palace 1-0 Walsall: FT Report
PA
Andy Johnson fired Crystal Palace into the top six with a controversial late penalty to leave Walsall staring relegation in the face after a fifth straight defeat.
Johnson's 28th league goal settled a match utterly dominated by the home side but was tough on Walsall, who argued long and hard that Tommy Black had dived to win the spot kick, the only goal of the game.
Black had only been on the pitch for two minutes when he went down easily under a challenge from Paul Ritchie, and referee David Pugh pointed straight to the spot.
Saddlers goalkeeper Jimmy Walker had been inspired all game to deny Palace from a host of chances, and he saved Johnson's initial kick only to watch helplessly as the First Division top scorer stroked home from the rebound.
The Saddlers came with a negative approach, getting men behind the ball, and with Lee Bradbury a lone figure up front, they looked a side who had failed to score in four games.
The tension of their situation was beginning to show for Walsall and Walker was at his best twice in quick succession to keep the score goalless in the 31st minute.
Aki Riihilahti won a free kick outside the penalty area and Walker acrobatically tipped Neil Shipperley's goalbound header over from Butterfield's delivery, which deflected off the wall.
From the resulting corner by Shaun Derry, Butterfield was allowed the time to pick out Shipperley again, but this time Walker tipped his header around the far post.
Walker then denied Johnson with a fine leg save when the First Division top scorer was clean through from a Nico Vaesen goal kick.
Johnson also headed wide after Popovic's flick-on from Riihilahti's right-wing cross, but Darren Wrack had a glorious chance for Walsall before the interval, just failing to make contact with Mark Wright's pull-back from the byline.
It was Riihilahti's turn to be denied by Walker after the break, the Finn's header from Granville's free kick drifting wide of the far post after a vital touch from the keeper.
Bradbury finally had Walsall's first shot on target in the 66th minute, and his effort was quickly followed by a long-range shot from Wright, but both were tame.
The game then exploded into life when Ritchie brought down Black to concede a penalty with five minutes remaining.
Walsall were furious but Johnson stepped up coolly to score after Walker had saved his initial spot-kick.
GO TOWN!
Another season down there where we don't belong.
