Crystal Palace 3 Wimbledon 1

Last updated : 31 January 2004 By Footymad Previewer

The kick-off was delayed for 45 minutes but the wait was well worth it for the Palace fans as Iain Dowie's Eagles made it six wins from eight with a 3-1 victory against Wimbledon.

Thousands were unable to enter the ground before the match as the high winds forced pieces to fly off from the asbestos roof of the main stand.

Top marksman Andy Johnson just can't stop scoring with another brace to fetch his tally for the season to 20.

Johnson could easily have scored two more but for remarkable stops from Steve Banks in the Wimbledon goal.

Stuart Murdoch's Dons battled hard but they were no match for Dowie's much improved Eagles.

Johnson headed Palace in front on 33 minutes from Danny Butterfield's inch-perfect cross from the right, but Joel McAnuff, who plugged away throughout, levelled five minutes after the break with a 20-yard shot which Cedric Berthelin in the Palace goal was unable to stop.

It was Wimbledon's first and last shot on target.

Despite a strong and driving wind in their faces, Danny Granville restored Palace's lead with his first goal of the season after excellent work from Julian Gray and Neil Shipperley.

Two minutes from the end Johnson rounded up a good afternoon's work with a 30-yard lob that floated over Banks and under the crossbar to give Palace only their second home win since October.

Dowie said afterwards: "Johnson is having a good run, and he is working his socks off. He was stopped by two great saves from getting four today. He deserves everything he gets.

“We felt we were in control despite the conditions, but credit to Wimbledon - they kept going. In these conditions, the result is the main thing."