Football / The Premier Kick-Off: Rovers close in on Thomas

Crystal Palace. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Blackburn Rovers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

MONEY may not be able to buy everything, but it can help build a football team. Today the Crystal Palace midfield player and England international, Geoff Thomas, is expected to sign for Blackburn for pounds 3m. On Saturday the first return on Rovers' pounds 3.6m investment in Alan Shearer came with two goals of such quality that they made his fee seem reasonable.

Thomas's display against his future employers was hardly convincing, but speculation over an impending transfer appeared to have unsettled him. Although he had not asked for a move, he said after an entertaining draw between the two clubs, 'I think I need a fresh start.' Apart from the financial security, Thomas, who was born in Manchester, is keen to return to the north.

His signing will bolster a midfield which rarely impressed against Palace, but it was hampered by the early loss of the talented Alan Wright, who had been moved from his normal position at full-back. If it had been for Shearer maintaining his remarkable record of scoring on his debut at every level in the professional game - with a dipping volley from 20 yards followed by an inch-perfect drive from 25 - Rovers would probably have finished as also-rans.

The Crystal Palace manager, Steve Coppell, had said his club 'didn't want to sell' Thomas, but he had clearly resigned himself to the probability of Thomas's departure if Blackburn matched Palace's valuation. Success in the Premier League, as Rovers' benefactor, Jack Walker, is already finding out, will not come cheap.

Coppell welcomed the new format with considerable sarcasm: 'I'm sure we'll benefit in a couple of years when there are only six clubs left and the rest are left fighting for their lives.'

As Palace's longest serving manager since the war, Coppell has achieved a great deal in making Palace a fixture in the game's top flight. There have been more attractive sides in Palace's history, but none as successful. The problem for Coppell is how to develop Palace's game further. Despite the imminent loss of Thomas, pounds 3m is a ridiculous sum for someone of his limited ability and rebuilding his side with such a fee will be a challenge to Coppell's shrewdness.

Certainly, if Palace are to prosper in a crazy world they will need to develop some attacking ideas apart from chipping the ball over the defence and running after it while the other side tries to work out what to do in the absence of the escape route of a back-pass to the goalkeeper. Another favourite ploy, used at free-kicks, is for their players to cluster conspiratorially in the opposing penalty area and then wheel away at the last moment. No longer a novelty, it looks like some ritual male-bonding exercise and seems about as effective.

Yet Palace made the most of their chances with first-class finishing. Mark Bright's downward header, Gareth Southgate's volley and Simon Osborn's injury-time equaliser were all taken with gusto. They will have been further encouraged by the promising return of John Salako after a 10-month lay-off because of knee surgery.

Blackburn's best moments came in the fluency of their forward play. Stuart Ripley, their pounds 1.3m winger from Middlesbrough, neatly headed their first goal and combined cleverly with Mike Newell and his fellow striker, Shearer. Tomorrow's home game against Arsenal's cardboard cut-out defence will give this trio a further opportunity to show their paces.

Goals: Bright (37) 1-0; Ripley (42) 1-1; Southgate (62) 2-1; Shearer (66) 2-2; Shearer (82) 2-3; Osborn (90) 3-3.

Crystal Palace: Martyn; Humphrey, Shaw, Southgate, Young, Thorn, McGoldrick, Thomas, Bright, Salako (Rodger, 74), Coleman (Osborn, 83). Substitute not used: Heald.

Blackburn Rovers: Mimms; May, Wright (Price, 28), Sherwood, Hendry, Moran, Ripley, Atkins, Shearer, Newell, Dobson. Substitutes not used: Wegerle, Dickens.

Referee: R Milford (Bristol).