Crystal Palace smashed Wolves's confidence and grabbed first place in Division One at Molineux, as a superb strike from Jovan Kirovski claimed all three points.

Much of the pre-match hype focused on speculation linking Steve Bruce with Birmingham and he had two of his signings Matt Clarke and Steve Vickers to thank for victory, as the impressive keeper pulled off more superb saves and the on-loan defender coped admirably with Wolves' best efforts.

Another of Bruce's low budget transfers, American Kirovski, hit a spectacular winner just before half-time as the Eagles soared to the top of Division One.

Palace began brightly, and former Molineux marksman Dougie Freedman had a good early effort loop over the bar.

Although Wolves had the better of possession, they used it poorly with a series of overhit and sliced crosses from Mark Kennedy and Shaun Newton troubling spectators behind the goal more than they did Clarke. The only moment of danger for the Eagles came when Vickers' looping back header forced Clarke to leap backwards and touch the ball over the bar.

Wolves seemed solid enough in defence until Kirovski struck. He gathered the ball 30 yards out after a Hayden Mullins free-kick and launched a lovely rising, curling, shot that screamed past the unsighted Michael Oakes.

The Palace goal was under siege for the entirety of the second half but the Eagles' defence held firm, with Vickers, Tony Popovic and Mullins repeatedly clearing their lines.

And Clarke, as he so often does, rescued his side by diving low to his right to deny Proudlock, rushed out of his goal to rob Shaun Newton twice, then pulled off the save of the match from a volley by Colin Cameron.

After years of despair, administration and near-elimination, Crystal Palace had reached the top of the division and surely even the most ambitious of managers could not abandon this lively and skilful side now.

October 24, 2001 14:30