April 15 2006

Andy Johnson

We limped over the finishing line for the play-offs but it should have been three points and not one as we threw away a two-goal lead to draw against relegation-haunted Crewe Alexandra, writes SIMON Pophale.

It should not have come as a shock. This season we have taken only 1 win against the bottom 3 teams. Yet, the first half performance should have blown Crewe off the park and they would have been grateful for only being 2 goals down as we threatened to run riot.

From the start of the game, we began to dominate and had Dougie Freedman not miskicked with only 8 minutes gone, we would have opened the scoring.

When the goal finally came on 28 minutes, it was no more than we deserved. Marco Reich’ cross was headed into the path of Johnson and he made no mistake from 6 yards. Minutes later, AJ tried to return the favour but the overworked Crewe goalkeeper Ross Turnbull made a great stop from Reich from a similar distance.

Turnbull could do nothing about our 2nd goal however and it was Freedman,who by the end of the first half had missed enough chances to claim a hat-trick, set up AJ with a clever flick and our England hopeful ran clear to round Turnbull and roll the ball into the empty net. 2-0 and half time approached.

The 2nd half was more of the same, we dominated possession and Crewe did have the odd chance, but Kiraly was more than a match for anything that the visitors could throw at us.

Which made our capitualation even more surprising and concerning, with an hour gone, it was as if a switch had been flicked and suddenly, all of our players suddenly stopped playing. Crewe came slowly back into the game and on 67 minutes, fashioned a goal of their own as Luke RODGERs smashed home after a good through ball.

Five minutes later, with Crewe sensing that we had gone to sleep, they managed to draw level as a lofted ball into the box was handled needlessly by Tom Soares and referee Russell pointed to the spot. Kenny Lunt fired the equaliser and we looked into total disarray.

We had a myriad of chances to put the game far beyond Crewe and Johnson should have had a hat-trick. His was our last chance as his effort brought yet another save from Turnbull with 10 minutes to go.

At the final whistle the boos rang out at Selhurst Park not because of the fact that we had qualified for the playoffs, but we had surrendered a lead so meekly, it was an insult to the 18,000 Palace fans that turned up. Crewe brought around 100 and we deserved better.

We might be in the playoffs, but we look far from promotion certainties. The hoodoo against the bottom sides continues. The only saving grace is that we don’t have to play any more sides in the bottom 4. On the evidence of the last 30 minutes of this game, it is just as well.