Crystal Palace

1-2

Preston North End

Ward 26

 

Dichio 35, 88


The FA Cup Fourth Round Proper Replay
Selhurst Park
Tuesday 07 February 2006
Winning club receives £60,000



Preston are through to The FA Cup Fifth Round tie with either Middlesbrough or Coventry thanks to Danny Dichio's late header. With extra-time on the horizon, Dichio stunned Crystal Palace by putting away Paul McKenna's curling free kick.

Darren Ward had given the hosts the lead after 26 minutes, bundling in a header from Jobi McAnuff's corner. But Preston hit back before half-time when Dichio nodded in another McKenna free-kick.

Facing each other for the third time in ten days, both sides struggled for inspiration in front of a subdued Selhurst Park crowd.

The best chance of the opening exchanges came when Ward misjudged a header back to his own goal and Kiraly did well to scramble the ball away for a corner.

Kiraly was again on hand to palm away Chris Sedgwick's near-post effort shortly before Palace took the lead when Ward bundled in McAnuff's expertly delivered corner.

But their advantage lasted just nine minutes, with Dichio delivering a richly deserved Preston equaliser.

The visitors might have been behind again shortly before half-time but Andy Johnson headed straight at Nash from eight yards. Chances were few and far between in a dismal second half.

Preston boss Billy Davies responded by bringing on David Nugent, and the striker almost scored with his first touch from Dichio's knock-down.

Palace came back strongly and McAnuff's low shot fired a warning shot to the visitors, although the effort was easily dealt with by Carlo Nash.

Extra time looked increasingly likely but Palace manager Iain Dowie was furious when his team again failed to deal with a set-piece just two minutes from time.

The Palace defence could not get a head to McKenna's free kick and Dichio beat Kiraly to get the final touch and book Preston a home fifth-round tie.

Crystal Palace:   G Kiraly, D Ward, M Hudson, E Boyce, G Borrowdale (90 W Andrews) , A Riihilahti, B Watson, M Reich (90 T Soares) , J McAnuff, A Johnson, D Freedman (72 J Macken)

Subs not used: J Speroni, G Wilson

Preston North End: C Nash, Y Mawene, T Mears, M Hill, C Lucketti, P McKenna, C Sedgwick, B O'Neil (87 D Hibbert) , L Neal (74 D Nugent) , P Agyemang, D Dichio

Subs not used: G Ward, C Davidson, A Parillon

Referee: Paul Armstrong

Attendance: 7,356