On a night when Crystal Palace could have gone top of Division One, they hit rock bottom, with their worst performance of this years campaign last Wednesday night.

It might have been the Gills front trio of Marlon King, Iffy Onoura and Guy Ipoua who tormented Palace, but the real reason for the Eagles defeat at Priestfield was poor defending.

10 minutes was all it took for the Kent side to break Palace down, as former Selhurst favourite Simon Osborn put in Ipoua, who broke past Christian Edwards and shot low past Matt Clarke. And 10 minutes later Clarke allowed Onoura to head home unmarked at the back post.

Palace had chances, but their passing was hopefully long rather than deadly and short, and the striking partnership of Morrison and Dougie Freedman failed to spark. When King grabbed a slice of the rout just before half time after a soft punch from Clarke, there would be no way back for the Eagles.

Palace fans had to be make do for entertainment with the arrival of Ian Wright on the terraces, as the game descended into nastiness and petty squabbles in the second half. But its tempting to suspect that even in his pomp Wright would have found it hard to conjure a win last Wednesday.

Click here for kick-by-kick analysis of Gillingham v Palace, Nov 21, 2001

November 29, 2001 12:31