Thompson Off As Rovers Draw.

[Alan75]

Rovers collected a welcomed point in a 0 – 0 draw away to Palace this afternoon in a game that ended up with referee A.Wiley dishing out yellow cards and sending off substitute, David Thompson towards the end of the game.

Not a game for the football connoisseur and best forgotten. Although Rovers could have sealed all three points if it hadn’t been for some inspired goal keeping from Palace’s Gabor Kiraly.

With the first half hour being a scrappy affair Rovers started to take control of the game in the final 15 minutes of the first half and if it hadn’t been for three outstanding saves by Palaces keeper Gabor Kiraly Rovers would have gone in at the break in the lead.

With around 5 minute to go before the break, Kiraly made a double save, when he first blocked a Bothroyd effort and then he denied Reid from scoring from the rebound. Within 2 minutes the keeper was again in the action to deny Craig Short from scoring with a volley.

Half time 0 – 0.

After the break the game deteriorated with few chances to either side, although Palace’s Johnson had a shot tipped on to the post by Friedel.

As frustration crept into the game the referee became the main attraction dishing out yellow cards like Christmas cards, with Thompson getting two yellows which resulted in his sending off.

Full time 0 – 0.

Palace: Kiraly, Boyce, F.Hall, Popovic, Granville, Routledge,(Torghelle 82 ) Riihilahti,(Andrews 52) Watson, Hughes, Kolkka(Lakis 73), Johnson.

Subs not used: Speroni, Leigertwood,

Yellow card. Hughes, Torghelle, F.Hall, Andrews,

Rovers: Friedel, Neill, Short, Todd, Matteo, Reid,(Thompson 71) Flitcroft, Ferguson, Emerton, Dickov, Bothroyd.(Stead 79)

Subs not used: Enckelman, Johansson, Gallagher.

Yellow card. Dickov, Todd.

Red card. Thompson

Referee: A Wiley

Attendance: 22,010