Crystal Palace 2 Hull City 0

Last updated : 10 September 2005 By Footymad Previewer
Morrison, making his first start since a £2million move from Birmingham, prodded home Palace's first on 27 minutes and Johnson eased the nerves at the end with his fifth goal of the season.

Hull City are managed by former Palace favourite Peter Taylor, who is also the England under-21 boss, and he was given a standing ovation by the home fans on his return.

The Tigers stretched Palace for the opening 20 minutes and could have gone ahead when skipper Nicky Barmby fired a tremendous 18-yard shot which rattled the crossbar.

Instead, in Palace's next attack, Tom Soares opened up the visitors' defence with a tremendous run. The England under-21 international just managed to keep the ball in play before crossing low into the goalmouth where Morrison converted for one of the easiest goals of his career.

Hull kept plugging away and Palace had to defend strongly to ensure that Gabor Kiraly was not given too much to worry about.

The Tigers had a few chances but their finishing was poor, although Stuart Elliott should have done better with a golden chance from a close-range header.

Iain Dowie's outfit played good possession football and presented Hull with little. Still, the Tigers always looked capable of snatching one until Johnson settled the nerves with his fifth goal of the season one minute from the end. Wayne Andrews, a substitute for just a matter of seconds, flicked across a neat header to Johnson on the halfway line and the England international marched on unchallenged for another 30 yards before shooting low under the body of Boaz Myhill to wrap up a competant Palace performance.