Crystal Palace 2 Rotherham 0

Palace's fourth consecutive league victory lifted them back into the play-off zone on Saturday with a hard-fought win against Rotherham.

Second-half goals from Clinton Morrison and substitute Jamie Smith gave Palace the points and banished the memory of one of the most turgid first halves Selhurst Park has seen in recent years.

Despite being relaid in the summer, the Selhurst pitch is becoming very muddy and bumpy and the first-half reflected that with neither side getting the ball down.

Jovan Kirovski, recalled in place of Trevor Benjamin, had two early headers but failed to threaten on either occasion.

Then on 27 minutes, Danny Granville made space for himself before whipping a great cross on to the head of Dougie Freedman. The Scotsman's powerful header was well held by Rotherham keeper Mike Pollitt.

After Kit Symons was booked for a swipe at Paul Warne, the Eagles won a free kick 30 yards out in a central position, normally Kirovski territory. It was significant that the increasingly marginal American did not try to claim the free kick, leaving it for Granville to waste with an over-hit cross.

Just before half-time Palace were grateful to their Latvian keeper Alex Kolinko when he made a fingertip save to stop Paul Lee's wicked drive hitting the top corner of his net.

At the break Trevor Francis made a crucial tactical switch, withdrawing Kirovski and Simon Rodger, for Julian Gray and Smith, to give Palace more width in a 4-4-2 formation.

The impact was immediate as Gray, in particular, pressed forward down the left.

Ten minutes into the second half it was Palace captain Mullins who created the breakthrough, winning the ball in midfield and putting Morrison clean through in a central position to finish for his 19th of the season.

On the hour, man of the match Mullins won the ball and burst through the Rotherham defence only to be hauled down. McIntosh was carded for the offence.

Ten minutes from time Smith wrapped up the points by finishing off a great flowing passing move. Mullins fed Granville on the left and he cut inside the fullback.

Granville's cut back was missed by Freedman but the ball fell to Smith at the back post, who controlled and rifled the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the goal.

Afterwards a delighted Francis said: "We have taken nine points from nine and you can't ask for anything more than that."

January 24, 2002 15:30