By Paul Holmes
August 11 2002

In a new the first of a new feature Palace fan Jonathan Burgher tells us how he saw the match through his eyes.

Preston	1-2	Crystal Palace
Fuller 68		Powell 69 Kabba 86

Deepdale

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Substitute Steve Kabba's first senior goal gave Palace a fine opening-day victory over Preston - their first at Deepdale since. The substitute's 86th minute strike completed a dramatic comeback against the Lillywhite's ten men.

Yet Craig Brown's first league game in charge of Preston was incident-packed as Palace new boy, Andrew Johnson, was stretchered off with a neck injury just before half time, and North End's Eric Skora was shown his second yellow card for hauling back Johnson's replacement Tommy Black early in the second half.

In an even first half Preston started the brighter and could have been ahead in the first minute. Skora's drive forced keeper Matt Clarke into an acrobatic save after Jamaican international Ricardo Fuller outpaced the Eagles' Aussie defender Tony Popovic, while midfielder Paul McKenna headed straight at Clarke.

Yet possession was shared fairly equally between both sides, and Johnson's pace caused the Preston back three all sorts of problems. The Eagles forced several corners and Popovic headed their best chance of the first half just wide from a Danny Granville free kick.

It was 10-man Preston who took an unexpected 68th minute lead when the lively Fuller neatly lobbed Clarke from Rob Edwards' free kick. But Palace hit a minute later when debutant centre-half Darren Powell stabbed home from close range following Danny Granville's cross.

The Eagles sought to take advantage of the extra man by bringing on another striker in Steven Kabba and reverting to four at the back, but Preston were always dangerous on the break as Clarke saved well from Richard Cresswell after Powell's defensive error.

Preston reduced Palace's best chances to long-range efforts until Kabba had the last word.

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