CRYSTAL PALACE 2 bt BRADFORD 0

A packed house at Selhurst Park was treated to a two-goal win against Bradford last Tuesday but the victory was made possible by some world-class saves from Matt Clarke, writes Ryan Huckle.

Clinton Morrison scored his 10th and 11th goals of the season at either end of the match but it was the performance of 1.35 million keeper Clarke against his former club that secured the points.

The goalkeeper's heroics didn't go unnoticed by his former manager, Bradford's Jim Jeffries, who dropped Clarke when he arrived at Bradford last year.

He said: "Matt Clarke won the game for Palace with two unbelievable saves. Palace will wonder how they won all three points."

Firstly, Clarke had bravely blocked Ashley Ward's fierce shot, then straight away he made a fingertip save from Gunnar Halle's follow up.

Morrison had opened the scoring on 20 minutes, expertly flicking a Jamie Smith cross over the helpless Bradford keeper.

He then sealed the win late in injury time after Palace had soaked up some incessant Bradford pressure, with Ward heading onto the post and Eoin Jess blazing wide after a mistake by Simon Rodger.

After the game, Palace manager Steve Bruce singled out the keeper for praise but he also lauded the whole team for the latest string of results and the way players were now playing "with a smile on their faces".

On the evidence of this performance, Palace are benefiting from a slice of luck that has deserted them in recent times.

October 24, 2001 16:00