Crystal Palace 0 – 2 Manchester United; Rooney Sets up Victory as United too Good despite Glenn Murray’s Welcome Injury Return!

All the talk before kick-off at Selhurst Park on this evening match under lights was of Wayne Rooney’s 300,000 pound a week new contract and how he would choose to celebrate it. Before kick-off the Champions were made to feel welcome by a mural display at the Holmesdale Road End aimed to call for inspiration through togetherness right until the end. Indeed Rooney was given an especially warm welcome by the Palace faithful in the Holmesdale Road End at corners in the first half as bad blood was evident between the two sets of supporters given the past history that existed between them.

As the game got going in the first half Palace started assuredly and quite steadily. Tom Ince in his second appearance for the Club was eager to form an understanding with returning striker Glenn Murray who showed no ill effect from his injury. Manchester United was comfortable on the ball, and took control of the midfield using youngster Adnan Januzaj as an outlet on the wing down the left to launch attacks through. Palace defended resolutely as the understanding between Ward, Dann, and Delaney across the back four grew although at least in this match against United Parr was shown to be the weak link. Delaney headed off the line from a Rooney cross shot and Vidic headed the rebound over the crossbar. Maroanne Fellaini should have scored for United just before the break, scuffing a shot wide from close range.

Throughout the match Palace lacked a cutting edge as the midfield struggled to form an understanding with the strikers as they had to such potent effect in the West Bromwich Albion Victory. As a result Manchester United retained a lot of possession and was able to hold onto the ball easily in midfield with sharp incisive short passes across the pitch which neutralised a lot of Crystal Palace’s attacking intent. On sixty two minutes Manchester United made their general dominance and control of the play count, this despite of Crystal Palace’s sporadic attacking threat. Maroanne Chemakh who was having a difficult evening made a clumsy challenge on Patrice Evra in the penalty area to concede a spot kick. Robin Van Persie scored the penalty to give United a 1 – 0 lead.

Palace substitute Cameron Jerome replaced Glenn Murray who got an hours play under his belt in what was a performance full of endeavour and quality upon his full return from injury. Jerome tested De Gea with a low shot to nearly equalise minutes after coming off the bench. Yet unfortunately straight after this United went down the field and killed the game. Chemakh gave the ball away on the halfway line and United broke at pace, the Palace midfield failed to pick up their players and Evra crossed for Rooney to smash home a volley into the top corner of the net from twelve yards. Manchester United had secured the victory by 2 – 0.

Despite another pulsating Selhurst Park atmosphere which really is becoming the rebellious colourful vanguard to the rest of the quieter more sedate polished and corporate Premier League atmospheres, Palace did not have quite enough quality to match or defeat Manchester United. Player for player though the effort and endeavour alongside Pulis’s group organisation could not be faulted. Sadly though it was not enough for a result and Palace was left to look back with pride on some good individual performances and some solid units forming in midfield and defence for the rest of a tough run in. Bolasie came on for Chemakh for the last quarter of an hour as the Moroccan had a tough evening and did not have his best game in a Palace shirt. Bolasie on the other hand used his pace to good effect to test United down the flanks nearly creating a consolation goal for Palace.

Given the hype and anticipation around Selhurst Park in the build up to the visit of the Champions it may come as some surprise that realistically in terms of Crystal Palace’s survival hopes next Sunday’s match in Wales against Swansea City is I think bigger in terms of its importance. Swansea are entrenched in the relegation battle alongside Palace. They are likely to be tired and possibly disappointed after their Europa League Second Leg Tie on Thursday in Italy against Napoli so if Palace can take advantage of this to win some points, it could prove to be a massive turning point in Crystal Palace’s battle for survival.    

Palace 3 – 1 WBA: New Boys Make Telling Impact as Albion Drop into Bottom Three!

In this season of such a compacted bottom half and most congested relegation battle in years, Palace did themselves a massive favour by winning another six pointer against a relegation rival. Palace’s last two home games gathered maximum points as Jason Puncheon netted the winner in both games against Stoke City and Hull City. After the game against Hull City, Palace travelled for the first time in their history to the Emirates to play Arsenal. Despite a fruitless 2 – 0 loss Palace played well, the fans certainly enjoyed themselves, and in many ways the game showed how far the club has come in four years under CPFC 2010’s stewardship.

The day before our road trip to the Emirates the January Transfer Window closed for the 2014 season. It was a good final day for Crystal Palace as Steve Parish, Tony Pulis and director of football Ian Moody worked together to seal deals for goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey, defender Scott Dann, and midfielders Tom Ince and Joe Ledley. Jason Puncheon also made his loan move from Southampton permanent.

After a hectic deadline day of activity, Joe Ledley played at left back instead of Jonathan Parr. Scott Dann came into the defence for Danny Gabbidon. Thomas Ince came into the hole behind the frontman replacing Cameron Jerome. All four deadline signings including Puncheon came into the team to make home debuts against West Bromwich Albion at Selhurst Park. Palace started well and quickly against the Albion, Pulis’s new boys’ settling in seamlessly to a team that looked to carry on good recent home form in another crucial match at the bottom of the league. It did not take long for Palace to make there superiority in the first half count. Chemakh combined with Yannick Bolasie and his pace took him away from the West Bromwich Albion defender allowing him to play a through ball past the centre of defence for Tom Ince to latch onto and dink the ball past Foster and into the net at the far post to score and become an instant terrace hero.

Palace’s quick start took the Albion by surprise. Puncheon and Bolasie showed great understanding with the skilful and hardworking Ince, whilst Scott Dann looked to be developing a solid partnership with Damian Delaney at the centre of defence. Indeed twelve minutes after going ahead Palace’s quick start blitzed WBA again. No Albion defender tracked Joe Ledley’s run from a Tom Ince corner and his bullet header made it 2 – 0 as another debutant opened his goal scoring account as Palace took a vice like grip on proceedings.

In the second half West Brom came out like a train and caught Palace cold as substitutes Scott Sinclair and Thievy (Bifaima Koulossa) combined thirty six seconds after the restart for Thievy to become the third debutant to find the net in the game for their respective teams. In the second half West Bromwich was more competitive but Palace remained in front and were in control of proceedings. Sinclair tested Speroni and Craig Dawson shot over but Speroni was fantastic producing heroics to deny James Morrison and Scott Sinclair again this time from close range.

Palace remained comfortable playing on the break and Billy Jones cleared a flick header from Damian Delaney off the line following a Tom Ince corner. The Eagles capped a good day when Maroanne Chemakh broke from the halfway line only to be fouled by Ben Foster in the penalty area. Chemakh converted the penalty himself to restore a two goal cushion. Despite late chances for Berahino and Anichibe Palace went on to secure a crucial victory by 3 – 1 in this six pointer against another side mired in the bottom half of the table.

The biggest cheer of the day from the Palace faithful was however reserved for the return to action of thirty goal Championship striker Glenn Murray who had been out for eight months with cruciate damage picked up in the Playoff against Brighton. This return of such an Eagles talisman combined with the other new additions that add to Palace’s goal threat in the run in should well be enough to keep Palace up in what is turning out to be the closest relegation battle in Premier League history. Murray has returned to the squad and will be available for selection away to Everton at Goodison Park on Wednesday evening.