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Football

Palace off the mark in Premiership


LONDON, England -- Crystal Palace beat 10-man London rivals Fulham 2-0 to register their first win of the season on Monday and move off the bottom of the Premiership.

Palace, promoted last season, secured the three points with second half goals from Andy Johnson, his fifth of the campaign, and Finnish international Aki Riihilahti.

Johnson broke the deadlock and was singled out for particular praise by his manager Iain Dowie.

"Andy Johnson is quick, brave and strong and he will get goals," said Dowie.

"Outside of the top four strikers in the Premiership, I rate him up there as one of the best. He's got five goals for us now and he is doing a terrific job."

However, Palace's task at Selhurst Park was made easier when Fulham had defender Ian Pearce sent off after just six minutes for a clumsy lunge on Johnson after the Palace striker had sped away from him.

With Pearce the last defender, referee Mike Riley no choice to reach for the red card.

Chris Coleman's team were already handicapped by the absence of Andy Cole and Papa Bouba Diop who had been sent-off in the game against West Brom and were subsequently suspended.

But Palace, without a point at home all season before Monday's game, were unable to take advantage and Johnson squandered a hatful of chances to put his side ahead in the first half.

His worst miss was when he headed miserably wide from close range with just goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Saar to beat.

However, the pressure on a stretched Fulham defence eventually told as Palace continued to press after the break with the opening goal coming on 53 minutes.

Riihilahti played a weighted pass into the path of Johnson who burst between two defenders to slot the ball through the legs of van der Saar.

Riihilahti then made it 2-0 in the 69th minute when he headed in a corner to register his first goal in two years for Palace.

Coleman, a former Palace player, admitted his side need to improve.

"The first 45 minutes we were OK, but in the second half we made too many excuses because we were down to 10-men," said Coleman.

Johnson could have had a second in the 85th minute when he was clean through on goal but skewered his drive past the post while Ecuador international Ivan Kaviedes, on as a substitute, saw a right-foot shot come back off the post with four minutes left.

Palace now leapfrog Norwich at the bottom of the table, although both have five points and identical goal difference.


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