No combination of words in the whole of the world's linguistic listings could describe how I felt at half past ten on Wednesday night.
The weeks of torture and taunt that I endured during the countdown to Wednesday night was almost unbearable as my father and grandfather support Manchester United. I suffered and suffered and when the game kicked off there was a part of me saying "you better hope they're not merciless, that they have some sympathy for you" but I sat there, in the middle of my girlfriend's front room, eyes glued to the television and watched as both sides fought as if this was the final of the Champions League, not a Carling Cup quarter final. Zaha having a penalty/free kick claim denied but he picked himself up and continued to work his magic. The United players seemed too relaxed, as if victory was their right and not something they needed to work for, the Palace players throwing their all into it. Sean Scannell limped off, injured, before the break after a few collisions with Ji Sung Park and Fabio or Rafael Da Silva (not sure which one it was) and he was substituted for Jonathan Parr. Dean Moxey was replaced at the break, due to injury, by one Darren Ambrose. What a blessing in disguise this would turn out to be as after the hour mark both sides were going at it, still 0-0 up until the 65th minute. Zaha cutting inside from the right midfield to find Ambrose, under pressure from Park but able to slip away with a couple of touches, Darren let loose that ferocious right foot from 35 yards and gave Ben Amos something to grab at, but Amos' efforts were in vain as the rocket-esque ball flew with power, pace and swerve to defy his reach and ripple the top corner of the net. Forced to change locations and watch the game from my girlfriend's bedroom on her laptop I sprung from the bed with a cry of "YES!!" and she told me to stop shouting but it didn't matter, we were ahead against Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Carling Cup quarter finals.
Straight onto the phone to my Dad who picked up the phone, uttered the word "B****cks" and hung up. His weeks of torture were long behind me now, but of course the joy was short lived. Paddy McCarthy pulled down Federico Macheda in the box and the penalty was rightly awarded. Macheda himself stepped up and sent goalkeeper Lewis Price the wrong way to level the sides.
The last twenty minutes of the ninety were edgy for both sides, Valencia proving a force to be reckoned with had come close a few times but his efforts were all in vain and he couldn't seem to find the deadly ball to settle it. Price making a wonderful save with his feet sticks out in my mind.
Extra time was on the cards and it was substitute Glenn Murray that provided the Palace fans something to celebrate and there are probably fans still celebrating now as Wilfried Zaha, trouble maker that he is, earned Palace a free kick on the left hand side of United's penalty area, Ambrose (that beautiful man) crossed in for Glenn Murray to duck and head home the winner in the first half of ET. I'll admit he was in an offside position but it was no more than Palace deserved as they proved that they are worthy contenders against anyone. A nervy second half of ET for Palace as countless defensive phenomenons came one after another, Paddy McCarthy intercepting Park's near effort, Anthony Gardner clearing almost off the line before throwing his head in front of another effort just moments later. Nathaniel Clyne was in excellent form all night, making an incredible tackle to keep Diouf from providing a late equalizer. Price made the final touch as he clung to the ball in his six yard box in the last ten seconds before launching it up field. The whistle blew, my heart leaped, my stomach was doing back flips and my fingers were flying off the buttons on my Blackberry and I could hardly believe it. Crystal Palace have beaten Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Carling Cup quarter finals. Incredible!
A few quotes:
Dougie Freedman:
"When you come to Old Trafford you have to give it everything and the lads did that"
Alex Ferguson:
"Disappointed" ... "Not taking anything away from Palace, they deserved it"
Steve Taylor (my Dad, a United fan):
"Ya gonna lose son!" ... "Gibson will break your heart" .... "Enjoy your moment"
Jordan Gillam (Palace fan):
"One of the best performances I've seen away from home...not at any point during the game did I think we were going to lose it"
Jess Copper (Palace fan):
"Complete and utter perfection and the best whole team performance I've ever seen"
No words could possibly describe this feeling, but I am extremely proud to be a Crystal Palace supporter. Regardless of the result, the performance was flawless. The best of the best against the "underdogs" and we stepped up and took the game to them, gave it our all and got the reward. Priceless.
Team News:
Crystal Palace will look to rest a few players after Wednesday night's win over Man Utd in the Carling Cup (never get tired of saying that). Sean Scannell, Dean Moxey & Wilfried Zaha all put in good efforts, Moxey and Scannell having been subbed off in the first 45 minutes due to injury are expected to miss it. Zaha deserving a rest after playing the full 120mins with a tremendous effort. Jonathan Williams (leg), Lee Hills (knee) and Alex Marrow (ankle) all still out of action long term.
Derby County manager Nigel Clough signed Tamas Priskin on loan from Ipswich Town in the last week of November and the striker will hope for a place. John Brayford and Nathan Tyson are doubts for The Rams whilst Theo Robinson (thigh), Steven Davies (skull) & Kevin Kilbane (back) are all ruled out. Saul Deeney (shoulder) and Russell Anderson (hamstring) are also out.
Preview
Derby County are the visitors at Selhurst Park on Friday night with a vital three points up for grabs. Derby have lost their last five games, the last of which was a 1-0 defeat to Palace's rivals Brighton. Palace, on the back of a thrilling victory over Man United in the Carling Cup, get back to league action against The Rams and will hope to improve on their league form if they are to push for that play-off spot they held just weeks ago. The Eagles have lost two of their last five in the league and drew the other three 0-0 at home. Their last league match against Millwall left Palace fans in a state of shock as Glenn Murray (who scored the winner against United on Wednesday) put the ball wide of the post from 12 yards after McCarthy was fouled in the box. Hoping to get back to winning form, Dougie Freedman may need to rest some of his regulars as they put in a solid shift with overtime on Wednesday, the effects taking their toll as Scannell & Moxey both left the field with injuries, Wilfried Zaha seemed to have a strain towards the end, or perhaps just bad cramp. Either way, he deserves a rest for this one but with not many wingers to replace him, reserves and fringe players may get the nod to make their season debut. Stuart O'Keefe, a very competent and extremely talented midfield man, gave his all on Wednesday and seemed to have more fuel in the tank, he may be a sub or just a flat out starter after the performance he put in. The sides have produced nine goals in their last TWO meetings, seven being from The Rams, five in just one game at Pride Park. Their most recent meeting, at Selhurst Park, left the sides split down the middle 2-2, Darren Ambrose (his cracking goal setting the pace on Wednesday) with an 88th minute penalty to rescue the point for Palace last Spring.
The sides have met 62 times altogether and Derby have emerged victorious a whopping 28 times, with Palace getting ten less. The closest date to tomorrow that the sides have met on is the 1st December 1923 in the Old Division 2 where Derby emerged 5-0 victors. The 5 is a good number for Derby where Palace are concerned and having lost their last five, you just couldn't write it if Derby were to score another five past Palace. However, if Palace can keep out Manchester United for 120 minutes (bar a penalty) then I'm sure they can hold out an out-of-form Derby County.
My CPFC line-up:
Speroni
Clyne McCarthy Ramage Parr
O'Keefe Jedinak
Cadogan Dikgacoi Garvan
Easter
Subs: Price, Gardner, Wright, Ambrose, Iversen
Derby's last six:
L-L-L-L-L-W
Last time out:
Crystal Palace 2-2 Derby County
Moxey (21') Pearson (7')
Ambrose (pen, 88') Ward (63')
Match Facts:
- The sides have met 62 times, Derby the victors 28, Palace 18.
- Neither side has won in their last five games, Palace drawing three, Derby losing all five.
- Crystal Palace score an average of 0.88 goals at home, conceding 0.55
- Derby score an average of 1 goal away from home, conceding 1.89.
- Derby's most common result so far this season is an away defeat, they have lost away five times this season.
- Palace have lost just one game at home so far this season.
- Derby have not scored in the last fifteen minutes all season, conceding 6 in that time period.
- Crystal Palace have scored 8 goals in the last fifteen minutes this season, their most dangerous period.
My Prediction:
Crystal Palace 3-1 Derby County
Easter Priskin
McCarthy
Cadogan
Why no Murray?
ReplyDeleteI feel he should be rested after the solid effort he put in on Wednesday!
ReplyDelete