Sport

Freedman struggles to make his case

Leo Spall|Evening Standard
14 April 2012

If Dougie Freedman is celebrating his entry into Crystal Palace's 250 club today, it is likely to be a low key affair.

The striker joined a small group of players who have reached the landmark number of appearances for Palace when he played in last night's 2-1 extra-time Carling Cup win against Hartlepool.

He scored the equaliser but failed to make a strong claim for regular first-team football at Selhurst Park because of some wayward finishing.

Manager Iain Dowie, who was prepared to let him go on loan to Leeds this season, will need more convincing but the fans' favourite refuses to give up. Freedman, 30, said: "I have moved from Palace before and sometimes the grass is not greener on the other side.

"I am determined to play in the Premiership and score goals. The Hartlepool game was an opportunity to push for a regular first-team place.

"I try to create chances for myself with my movement and I thought I did that but unfortunately the two or three goals I should have scored did not come. It was a

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combination of bad finishing and good goalkeeping."

Freedman is not the only Palace striker misfiring. Sandor Torghelle struggled to make any impact before he was taken off.

Ivan Kaviedes was impressive when he came on, while Andy Johnson is likely to come back at Aston Villa on Saturday. Nicola Ventola is another option.

But that was not enough to leave Dowie in a good mood today. He wanted go to Villa Park on the back of a convincing win as Palace search for their first Premiership victory. Dowie said: "We are through to the next round. That is it. We were a bit

wasteful and did not play with enough desire. It was disappointing.

"You have to play at a certain level as a professional footballer. It took some zesting up at half-time to make us a bit brighter."

Dowie made six changes to his starting line-up last night but youngster Ben Watson was the only one of them who really impressed.

Palace fell behind in the 69th minute when Eifion Williams scored but Freedman equalised from a rebound after a shot from Tom Soares. Palace's superior fitness told in extra time, with Soares firing the winner for his first senior goal.

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Iain Dowie
Leeds
The Carling Cup