I am back off the Canadian rock that is Newfoundland and so
is my Palace Blog, as Palace’s away fixtures wrap up for the season against
champions elect (now champions) Reading. It was not a bad game either, as
Palace showed their battling qualities and power to adapt in adversity to fight
for a 2-2 draw. Indeed the last time Reading dropped points apart from Vs
Peterborough was back in October at Selhurst in a goalless draw which
illustrates what a good run Reading have been on to secure the championship.
This shows what a good performance it was by Palace to avoid defeat twice,
especially at the Madstad where freedman showed tactical competence and squad
knowledge as he played a makeshift defence as three of Palace’s back five,
including the goalkeeper were changed inside the first half an hour of the
match.
Reading were caught out inside the first twenty minutes by
the pace of Wilf Zaha and the holdup play of Glenn Murray as a sweeping Palace
attack gave the visitors a shock lead inside the opening quarter of an hour.
Indeed Palace seemed energised by the exuberance of young academy players such
as OKeefe and De Silva anchored by quality play from Norwegian Johnathan Parr
who helped McCarthy and Moxey marshal Matthew Parsons through the game after
injury to Paul McShane. Reading came back into the game and were clinical in
conditions of driving rain which made the playing service slick for fast
flowing football. A goal from defender Kaspars Gorkss tied the game as he
nodded home a header in a goalmouth scramble following a flick from Mikele
Leigertwood .
Just before half time Reading centre forward Jason Roberts
was sent off for a flailing arm at Johnathan Parr’s face which drew a straight
red card from referee Andy D’Urso firing up the home fans going into the break.
Andy D’Urso was criticised by Reading fans but from my position in the stand
the red card was justified because Roberts led with his arm, making contact
with Parr’s face and to his credit Parr got straight back up without making a
meal of it. Despite this the home fans jeered Parr for the remainder of the
contest yet this seemed to prove an inspiration as he drove Palace forward for
the rest of the match.
Into the second half and Palace’s substitute keeper Lewis Price
was in action as Julian Speroni was forced off in the first half with a
suspected broken hand. After saving a free kick from Ian Harte and being accidently
challenged in the followup by Noel Hunt he was forced off after awkwardly catching a corner. Price played
very well, and after coming to prominence
this season in the League Cup he continued his good form, making a number of
good saves and communicating well with his back four. Yet on 55 minutes in form
reading striker Adam Le Fondra headed in a cross from the right to, at that
point put Reading in touching distance of the title even without
Middlesbrough’s help.
Palace kept fighting though and for large periods after
going behind were competent in possession using the pace of Zaha to play around
Reading and even though Reading were the side heading for the Premiership the
class of Wilf Zaha showed them up somewhat and as the best player on the pitch
supported by the holdup play of Glenn Murray kept Palace in the game. With
fifteen minutes to go Murray scored his first goal of 2012 to deservedly draw
Palace level with a fantastic volley from the corner of the eighteen yard box
into the far bottom corner of the net.
Credit to both sides for producing a quality and
entertaining draw in wet conditions and indeed both managers have a lot to be
proud of this campaign. Brian McDermott
can reflect on the title (delivered by Southampton’s subsequent defeat
to Middlesbrough) and promotion. Dougie Freedman can also reflect proudly on a
campaign on the road that has witnessed cup victory at Old Trafford against the
Champions of England, as well as league victories away against bitter rivals Brighton
and Millwall helping to secure mid-table security in the Championship.
So next week the season comes to an end with great hope
going into 2013 turning full circle closing almost appropriately against
Cardiff City at Selhurst Park. Cardiff have their entire season riding on the
result needing to avoid defeat to definitely pip Middlesbrough to the final
Playoff place. Yet the Bluebirds were the team that broke the hearts of every
Eagles fan and our dreams of Wembley back in February. Can Dougie’s exciting
and sometimes potent mix of youth and experience return the favour by
extinguishing Cardiff’s promotion Dream? That depends a little on Watford Vs
Middlesbrough yet one thing is certain this storyline has all the ingredients
for a potent finish!
