Palace 0 - 0 Birmingham City

Steve Bruce returned to Selhurst Park this afternoon, for the first time since his acrimonious departure earlier this season. He had already publicly stated that he had wronged the Club and it's supporters, and that he expected a "bit of stick" when he led the team out. The intensity of the boos that greeted him and every movement that he made from the dug out, has, in my experience, only been matched by the reception given to Kevin Miller after he castigated the Club and opted to join Barnsley. On the footballing side Palace started brightly and forced Birmingham on to the back foot. Several corners came and went before City had their first real attempt when Stern John smashed a shot which Palace keeper Matt Clarke saved with his face, causing an eye injury which forced him off at half time. Palace's best chance fell to Clinton Morrison in the second period, but he dragged his shot wide of Vaasen's right hand post. Trevor Francis summed up what most of us had been feeling, when. in the after match press conference he said "There was one team trying to win today, and one team trying not to lose." Man of the match was City keeper Nico Vaasen who pulled off three top drawer saves from Danny Granville free kicks. If any one of them had gone in, it would have been no more than Palace deserved. This result keeps Birmingham on course for the end of season play off lottery, but Palace's hopes have now disappeared. Ah well, there's always next season!