By Gordon Sharrock: Crystal Palace 2, Bolton Wanderers 2 LIKE every 'Super sub' before him, Arnar Gunnlaugsson wants a place in the starting line-up. It's been the same since Charlton's Keith Peacock made history at Burnden Park 33 years ago as the first substitute to be used in a Football League game.

Tales are legend of heroes coming off the bench to snatch vital points or win crucial cup ties. David Fairclough practically made a career out of it at Liverpool!

Some are destined, even resigned, to having to sit and wait in the wings; others simply can't be ignored.

Gunnlaugsson hopes he is in the second category. He believes his injury-time equaliser at Selhurst Park on Saturday pointed Wanderers towards a Premiership return and put him in the running for a leading role. "I want to be involved more," the Icelander said, almost pleadingly, after his first goal in league football - a jink to the left and a rising drive into the roof of Keith Miller's net - saved the blushes of his defensive colleagues who'd put Terry Venables in sight of a first-day victory on his much-heralded return to league management.

Gunnlaugsson had similar frustrations last season after making his £100,000 move from Akranes - 13 of his 15 Premiership appearances being in the subs' shirt. Now he hopes for a bigger slice of the action. "Last season, even though I didn't play so many games, I was happy with the way things worked out for me, personally because I'd had a few injuries before I joined Bolton," he reflected.

"Now I'm hoping I will play more games.

"Like everybody I have worked very hard pre-season and it's nice to get a goal in the first game. It's good for the confidence."

Colin Todd will be eternally grateful for Gunnlaugsson's point-saver after seeing Gudni Bergsson and Mark Fish - defenders who should know better - hand the initiative to Palace inside 11 second half minutes after Wanderers had looked in complete control. A first day defeat would not have been a catastrophe but it would have been a bitter disappointment after such an impressive and encouraging first half performance. It would also have been a kick in the teeth for Dean Holdsworth, whose 32nd minute strike was executed and celebrated as a personal declaration of intent.

The record signing couldn't have asked for a better start or a more appropriate place to display his determination to put last season's troubles behind him; troubles the London Press had picked over so mercilessly on his last appearance at Selhurst Park in April, when they felt they had nothing better to write about after Wanderers had held Wimbledon to a scoreless draw. "On another day I could have had a couple more goals," Holdsworth said, justifiably satisfied with his afternoon's work, "but I'm pleased to start with a goal and, hopefully, there's plenty more where that came from."

Todd led the chorus of delight on Holdsworth's behalf.

"I'm thrilled that Deano got on the scoresheet. People were saying hurtful things about him last year. He took a lot of flak and unfair criticism but he looks like he's got the bit between his teeth and he will get goals.

"He could have had a hat-trick with a bit more composure." It might be personally frustrating for the Iceland international but it's a sign of the depth of talent in the Reebok squad that the scoring potential of Holdsworth and Nathan Blake, who set up his sidekick's goal with a powerful and astute header, could keep Gunnlaugsson on the sidelines.

But the manager was quick to point out to all those who missed the start - Bob Taylor and Mike Whitlow being prime examples - that there's a long, hard season ahead and injuries and suspensions are bound to take their toll before it's over. Although he got his chance on Saturday in midfield as a replacement for the impressive but tiring Scott Sellars (Michael Johansen replaced the flagging Claus Jensen soon after) Todd believes Gunnlaugsson is more suited to a forward role, up front or in 'the hole' just behind the strikers. Indeed, there was even a suggestion he is most effective when held in reserve for an energetic late burst.

"Arnar's good to have on the bench," the manager said. "He has good energy and ability. He's got that capability but he's got to start believing in himself."

There seemed no lack of self-belief when Gunnlaugsson said: "I can play in midfield, if he needs me; I'll even play in goal, if he needs me there." No chance there, of course. Head and shoulders taller, Jussi Jaaskelainen has cornered that particular market.

The young Finn could do little to prevent Matt Jansen and Sasa Curcic punishing Bergsson and Fish, respectively, for failing to clear their lines. But he did enough on other occasions to suggest Wanderers have a more than adequate understudy in Keith Branagan's absence.

While his was a satisfactory debut, Jensen's first taste of English league football was even more encouraging.

The John Byrom lookalike was impressive on and off the ball and, with more time and games to develop an understanding with the adventurous Neil Cox on the right, looks certain to play a major role in the quest for an instant return to the Premiership. The omens are good on that score. Two years ago, when they ran away with the Nationwide League title, Wanderers kicked off with an away draw at Port Vale and came from behind to draw at Palace with a last gasp Chris Fairclough equaliser.

Yet all the omens in the world won't count for anything if they don't tighten up at the back.

The midfield of Sellars, Jensen and their tireless anchorman Per Frandsen, will match or better anything in the division and there is little doubt that Holdsworth, Blake and, when called on, Gunnlaugsson and Taylor will get the goals.

But it's not only Premiership teams who have the ability to punish sloppy defending and you can understand Todd's concern, despite his satisfaction with a point. He was critical of "suicidal" defending and went on: "We will create goals but we've got to make sure we keep some clean sheets. Last season our big concern was not scoring goals, this time it might be at the back where we've got to concentrate more.

"If teams play through us or break us down and score good goals, I can't complain about defending but Gudni Bergsson could have cleared the first and Mark Fish should have cleared the second, when we got caught for trying to play too much in the wrong areas.

"That's self-inflicted and it's mistakes like that that we have got to cut out." The second was a particularly painful, potentially shattering experience with the enigmatic Curcic, taunted in the first half by Wanderers fans who enquired "Sasa, Sasa what's the score?" appearing to have had the last word with a stunning volley.

Fish held his hands up. "We should have come away with the win but two defensive errors, including mine when I should have cleared the ball for their second goal, have cost us.

"When Arnar came on and scored a classic goal I was the first one to run and congratulate him! "I think it's the first time I've made an error like that and it was disappointing for me personally.

"Hopefully I can learn from the mistake and we can build on the performance.

"The result was disappointing because we were the better team but, all in all, we're pleased with the first point in what is going to be a long race to the Premiership."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.