PLAYOFF FINAL WEMBLEY 2013; King Kev’s Wembley Penalty Lifts Eagles Out Of Championship As Zaha Leaves Parting Gift Of Premier League Legacy!

A 1 – 0 extra time victory over Watford at Wembley Stadium courtesy of a Zaha inspired Phillips penalty fired Palace into the Premier League... And dreamland! A crowd in excess 82,000 of which 35,000 were Palace fans witnessed the game it could be argued changed Crystal Palace’s history and future.

Billed as a £120,000,000 game this Wembley final was the climax to an epic Palace season. Team Spirit, hard work, raw emotion and determination to succeed typified this palace campaign. It was my first trip to new Wembley but I was fortunate enough to witness both the 1996 and 1997 Playoff finals at Wembley as a teenager. This was the first match I have ever witnessed in the gods of a stadium, (apart from Newcastle). It was like watching a giant Subbuteo match played on a carpet. It was fantastic to follow passages of play and sharp passes with an aerial perspective to mapping the game. It was also great to get this perspective on Wilfried Zaha’s last game for the club. Viewing his silky skills, turns, and mesmerising talent one last time from the air.

Crystal Palace was unchanged from the starting line up of the second leg of the semi final against Brighton playing in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Ward Delaney Moxey and Gabbidon at the back. Aaron Wilbraham played a lone role upfront with Zaha lining up alongside Williams on the flanks for the last time. KG, Garvan and Jedinak lined up across the middle of midfield. Watford matched up in a 3-5-2 formation with semi final hero Deeney partnering Vydra upfront.

The first half was tight and scrappy passing relatively quickly. The key moment of the half, indeed possibly the match was the injury to KG Dikgacoi and the introduction of his replacement Stuart O’Keefe. O’Keefe who had played so well in another big match at Old Trafford in 2011 fitted seamlessly alongside Jedinak in midfield leaving Palace’s momentum unaffected. He marked his arrival into the game with a crunching tackle on Jonathan Hogg. Later in the second half he was lucky not to be sent off for kicking the ball at Abdi’s face after the Watford player made a bad tackle. O’Keefe played the midfield role well and was unlucky not to score after drawing a fantastic save from the excellent Manual Almunia in the Watford goal.

A village atmosphere existed around Wembley prior to kick off. A potent mix of nervous tension and excitement among the 35,000 Palace fans excitement at the prospect of Zaha’s final bow for Palace on the biggest stage of all. Both sides mixed well and could have sold a lot more tickets but for the stupid Club Wembley ticketing system that deprived both teams of more fans in the stadium. Large swathes of the centre of the stadium were empty but they were engulfed by colour and noise red, blue, yellow and black from either end behind the goals.

I was relieved not to be playing Leicester after the pain of the 2 – 1 Wembley defeat in 1996. Steve Claridge’s shin had caused untold emotional pain and frustration on a then fourteen year olds football psyche in the 120^th minute of that match. Yet however that changed Palace’s history then, it was about to be rewritten again now. Not just because of the cruel fashion of Leicester City’s semi final defeat to Watford in 2013, but because of the magic in twenty year olds Wilfried Zaha’s feet and the penalty Prowess of a forty year old ageless superhero.... Kevin Phillips!

In the second half defences remained on top. Both goalkeepers pulled off some superb saves especially Speroni. Gabbidon and Delaney showed the defensive understanding that had propelled Palace to the top of the league in the autumn. Again Palace played the match not the occasion but this time they were roared on by 35,000 Palace fans, not the 2,000 they were restricted to at the AMMEX. Watford could not live with the Eagles energy and determination present in abundance for the final hurdle. Despite Watford taking the match into extra time substitutions again proved crucial for Ian Holloway. Wilbraham worked tirelessly without reward, but the timings of the introduction of Phillips and Moritz for Williams and Garvan gave Palace the platform to make the breakthrough.

Zaha in his final appearance for Crystal Palace before joining up with his Manchester United team mates was unplayable. He rose to the big occasion his skill and ability unlocking the door to the Premier League for Crystal Palace.  Supported by the hard work and off the ball running, tracking back, closing down and commitment from his team mates as Jedinak, O’ Keefe and Ward was immense at covering ground feeding Phillips.

The breakthrough came on 105 minutes when Zaha’s skill and Palace pressure forced Cassetti to concede a penalty. Kevin Phillips duly dispatched an unstoppable shot into the top corner. A place in the Premier League was fifteen minutes away. Seventeen years to the exact date and Memories of Leicester in 1996 were been wiped away by the boot of a forty year old Phillips. When Joel Ward cleared a last minute Forestieri shot off the line with his head, Steve Claridge’s shin punt disappeared into the ether of time and Palace won the £120 million game to return to the Premier League for the first time since 2004.

Wembley and South London rose to acclaim the fairytale of the old and the young. Thanks to Zaha, Phillips, and the foresight of the CPFC 2010 group Crystal Palace have returned back where they belong in the top flight. The dream of a legacy of sustainability and stability now is within the grasp of the Crystal Palace Football Club family as a parting gift from Wilfried Zaha!!!

Playoff Leg 2; Crystal Palace (2) 2 – 0 (0) Brighton & Hove Albion: Palace Are Off To Wembley!!!

For the first time since 1997 and that Hopkin goal, Palace is returning to the spiritual home of football Wembley Stadium. Watford waits for a place in the Premier league in 2013/14. The result that took the Eagles there was secured against their bitterest rivals and in their rival’s back yard making it all the sweeter for the vocal two thousand travelling fans.

These matches were always going to be tight. The size of the prize at stake was always going to cement a historical new chapter in this fierce rivalry. Ambiguous though the nature of the rivalry may be to the rest of the football world, it remained as alive as ever throughout the match. A fact reflected in the ridiculous police presence around both matches. The match was played in the relative comfort of the new Ammex Stadium and with excellent disabled views the ground was ready for the biggest derby match in its young history. Palace was ready for the challenge and disciplined in their approach.

The second leg saw Palace play an unchanged side from the match at Selhurst Park barring an enforced change upfront because of Glenn Murray’s injury. Aaron Wilbraham came into the team with Garvan playing off him. This would be the performance to define Palace’s season reflecting the character of this great Palace team that never give in. This Crystal Palace team was organised and determined playing the game and not the occasion. In finding form that reflected the purple patches of the autumn Brighton did not see it coming and could not react to the knockout punch.

 In the first half despite continuing its tight pattern the match was being controlled from the benches by a tactically astute Ian Holloway. He had learned from the heavy defeat in March. Joel Ward was brilliant at right back. Delaney and Gabbidon were quietly efficient and effective at the back. This win was built on solid organisation nowhere more so than in midfield Jedinak and Garvan breaking up play and creating space for Williams and Zaha to exploit. The timings of Holloway’s substitutions of Moritz and Bolasie on for Garvan and Williams was perfect in exploiting the most out of Brighton’s fatigue and frustration.

Victory came after the substitutions with the brilliance of Wilfried Zaha scoring two goals by carving up the Brighton defence in the last half an hour. Heading home a Bolasie cross after getting in front of Wayne Bridge he stooped to conquer sending all Palace fans wild. On Eighty Eight minutes it was two; Zaha collected a pass from KG to turn Gordon Greer and smash the ball home into the roof of the net.

Crystal Palace’s season now culminates at Wembley on 27^th May 2013 against Watford. Fittingly in the week Crystal Palace academy graduate Ben Watson scored the winning FA Cup Final goal for Wigan Athletic at Wembley Stadium, Wilfried Zaha’s last Palace match before his much heralded move to the Champions will also be at Wembley. What a tribute to the Crystal Palace academy system. Dreams can come true for smaller clubs but this takes place only alongside hard work and determination. Well done to everyone involved. Enjoyment and celebration will now mix with the final professionalism to get in the Premier League. The first appearance of Crystal Palace Football Club at the new Wembley marks an appropriate sent off for the final match of our current badge on the clubs shirts.

Playoff Leg 1: Crystal Palace 0 – 0 Brighton and Hove Albion.

All is still to be decided in the second leg of this playoff as Palace secured a goalless draw at Selhurst to take to the Ammex on Monday night. An attendance of over 23,000 supporters packed into Selhurst for a pulsating evening under lights ready to witness another historic chapter in the Crystal Palace vs Brighton rivalry. The match was a far tighter affair then either league encounter somewhat reflecting the size of the prize at stake.

Neither team wanted a heavy defeat going into the second leg. Brighton started well, but their neat football was matched by Palace’s endeavour, work rate, and the intense atmosphere inside the ground, an atmosphere stoked by the bitter animosity between the rival fans. Add to this the prize of Wembley and the chance of promotion for the winners and no single set of Palace V Brighton matches has ever had such national attention placed upon its results.

This tie was always going to be decided at the Ammex in the second leg. The first leg was always going to be tactical. A managerial battle of wits between Holloway and Poyet and as such Williams started with Jedinak, KG Dikgacoi, Garvan and Zaha in midfield. Brighton remains Dobbie’s parent club until July 1st and as such he could not play. Yannick Bolasie, Kevin Phillips, and Wilbraham started on the bench as Holloway played Murray as the lone man upfront. Brighton matched up with Palace with the dangerous trio of Ulloa, Lopez, and Orlandi all so effective in Palace’s defeat at the Ammex in March all starting.

Palace matched Brighton’s neat football with an intensity and work rate that was second to none. Although Albion started strongly Palace was driven on by a passionate and partisan crowd and this brought them into a competitive match more and more as the first half developed. There was no sign of the struggle for form that had so marked the end of the home side’s campaign. Brighton could and perhaps should have led at half time. Julian Speroni brilliantly foiled Dean Hammond’s powerful header. In the second half Williams, before cramping up, was beginning to significantly influence midfield. He narrowly failed to convert a brilliant Wilfried Zaha cross, but in a game of few clear cut chances a crucial moment was about to impact on Crystal Palace’s season.

On sixty six minutes Palace’s thirty one goal striker Glenn Murray fell awkwardly while jumping for a ball and appears to have damaged his cruciate  knee ligament. The unfortunate circumstances of Murray’s injury failed to knock Palace out of their stride, instead it drove them on. There was a determination not to give anything away going into the second leg. It may even have been better for Palace as Danny Gabbidon’s header was cleared off the line by a combination of Orlandi, Kuszczak, and the post.

At half time in the playoff semi final situation the goalless situations means the tasks for both sides in the second leg is clear. Winner takes all. There is everything to play for at the Ammex. Brighton’s resources give them a possible slight advantage along with a partisan crowd one thing is certain the weight of expectation has shifted firmly onto Brighton. If the game at the Ammex reflects the scarcity of opportunities at Selhurst it could be a long night. The tie now has echoes of last season’s League Cup Semi Final with Cardiff that went to penalties and Palace may need to draw on last seasons’ cup experience.

Massive credit should go to this Crystal Palace team. There is a sense of never giving up and led by ‘The Jedi,’ Captain Fantastic and Crystal Palace Player of the Year 2013 Mile Jedinak the team reflects a steely determination. The foresight of owners Steve Parish and Steve Browett to appoint Ian Holloway and keep a momentum going this season means the possibility of Wembley and possibility of promotion lies in reach, one excellent away performance away. Whether or not that away performance is possible depends on the conclusion of the tactical playoff battle between Ian Holloway and Gus Poyet at the Ammex on Monday evening.

 

Crystal Palace 3 – 2 Peterborough United: Palace Secure Playoff Berth as Victory Sends Peterborough Down!

An eighty ninth minute header from Mile Jedinak settled this key match in Palace’s favour with crucial final day consequences at both ends of the table. Palace and Peterborough both needed something from the game to secure their objectives; Palace a point for the playoffs, Peterborough a point to avoid relegation. Peterborough had lost just two of their last thirteen matches hardly relegation form, and started confidently. Although having not won since March it was Palace’s home record of two defeats all season that meant they only needed a point to stay in the playoffs.

The game itself was an up and down affair and was surprisingly open given the circumstances. Peterborough’s play was very attractive given their perilous position as Palace relied on home comforts to find form before the playoffs. Palace could have taken the lead when Delaney’s header was parried by Bobby Olejnik to Murray only for his goal bound shot to be cleared brilliantly off the line by Peterborough defender Grant McCann.

On twenty eight minutes Lee Tomlin gave Peterborough United the lead scoring a brilliant goal on the break. Cutting across Dean Moxey and Damien Delaney and shooting powerfully across Speroni into the net. Just before half time Glenn Murray ended an eight game baron spell slamming home a penalty on half time. The penalty followed a clumsy challenge in the box on Gabbidon by Zakuani after Peterborough failed to clear a corner. At half time it was 1 – 1 and results were putting Peterborough down.

At half time Peterborough knew the task in hand for the second half to stay up and knew they had to attack. For Palace results elsewhere would dictate an academic second half with the game only important for momentum as Palace was in the playoffs regardless. Yet unfortunately for tension levels none of the facts was known from rumour at the time. When Mendez-Laing put Peterborough 2 – 1 up they were safe as score lines were changing in their favour elsewhere. At this point Palace was unsure of a playoff place and the tension inside Selhurst was rising. Murray again had a shot cleared off the line and at this stage it appeared as though the Eagles end of season struggles would continue.

A brave attacking triple substitution after the hour would change everything. Holloway brought on Williams, Dobbie and Phillips for Garvan, Dikgacoi, and Bolasie and suddenly the Posh looked nervous. At this point the results elsewhere were keeping Peterborough up. Even when Dobbie brilliantly played in Phillips to show sublime close control in the box, to turn and fire home a low equaliser, Peterborough was still safe from the drop.

At 2 – 2 all was well for both teams. The pressure had been released and the equaliser in the eighty third minute meant Palace knew their fate, although Peterborough was nervously trusting to luck. Despite Huddersfield Town’s goal in the match against Barnsley a controversial free kick was about to decide the relegation issue permanently. On eighty nine minutes Dwight Gale was adjudged to have fouled Jonny Williams. Stephen Dobbie delivered the free kick onto Mile Jedinak’s head to head home Palace’s winner and relegated Peterborough in the process. Palace won 3 – 2 and the team achieved a place in the playoffs against rivals Brighton. The misfortunate Peterborough United was relegated on 54 points. The highest points total for a relegated team in Championship history.

Given the circumstances respectful relief and muted Palace celebration greeted the final whistle. Tremendous credit should go to the entire Crystal Palace team and staff for finishing 5^th this season after finishing 17^th last year. To achieve the goal of the playoffs for the first time since 2008 despite all that has happened this season shows what a strong unit this team is. Deserved reward is a tasty semi final derby down the A23 against bitterest rivals Brighton. The excitement commences over two legs from Friday. The final place in the Premier League is up for grabs!

GO PALACE!!!

Millwall 0 – 0 Crystal Palace: Den Stalemate Leaves Season on a Knife Edge for Final Day.

A high stakes South London Derby was full of work rate and endeavour but short on quality as chances were at a premium at a nervous Den. Palace sold out their 2,000 ticket allocation knowing a victory would secure a playoff place. Millwall needed the points for very different reasons; knowing victory would secure their place in the Championship for another season. As a result of the stakes involved in the game the intensity level on the pitch was high. Neither side could stomach defeat given the stage of the season, so Millwall’s work rate combined with Palace’s poor run of form meant this was a match of few chances that was always likely to finish goalless.

Yannick Bolasie and Owen Garvan returned to the Palace line up with Aaron Wilbraham and Stephen Dobbie dropping to the bench. Fresh from the weekend draw with Blackburn, Palace have struggled for form going into this derby match having not won for eight games. Combined with the fact Millwall has one of the poorest home records in the Championship quality is never going to be present in abundance. What made this derby so fascinating to watch and nerve racking for supporters was how much was at stake in terms of both teams’ seasons.

Both teams ended up relatively satisfied with a point, but in truth this was a game where not a lot happened in front of goal. Both teams’ defences were never really threatened. Joel Ward was again solid for Palace while Danny Shittu was immense for Millwall and Alan Dunne marshalled Wilfried Zaha very well. Indeed he almost got into Zaha’s head as the Manchester United bound youngster played his penultimate league match for Crystal Palace.

As the game developed Palace had the edge in terms of quality but Millwall’s hard work and industry kept Palace at bay in a keenly fought London Derby. Glenn Murray could have had a penalty for the second match in a row. Twice he had chances, played in by Garvan his control let him down at a crucial stage and he just failed to beat Forde to feed Garvan in on goal. Williams was given a quarter of an hour to make an impact in the second half but it was Bolasie who really tested Forde with a snap shot after cutting in off the wing. Delaney also scooped a golden chance wide to win late on.

Millwall also had their chances. Showing admirable work rate Josh Wright, Shaun Batt, and Andy Keogh all had opportunities. The Palace defence held firm however free from the mistakes that had blighted recent performances. Kenny Jackett had the unfortunate job of substituting the substitute because of a poor performance after just fourteen minutes on the pitch. Danny N’guessan was hauled off for not playing to the required standard for a derby on eighty seven minutes.

After this goalless draw both sides have work to do. Millwall requiring a point at Derby County to be safe, Palace need to do the same at home to Peterborough on the final day of the season to achieve a playoff berth.