FA Cup Final: Crystal Palace 1 – 2 Manchester United

So Crystal Palace end the campaign by losing the FA Cup final narrowly by 2 – 1 thanks to a goal by Jason Puncheon cancelled out by strikes from Juan Mata and Jessie Lindgart. In a day that saw and overcast and wet conditions, both teams played a tight style with close control and sharp passing. The game opened up in the second half in a five-minute spell with ten minutes left on the clock.

Jason Puncheon gave the eagles the lead on seventy-eight minutes only for Manchester United to equalize three minutes later on eighty- one minutes. In extra time Chris Smalling got sent off on one hundred and five minutes. Despite only having ten men united won the match in extra time with a goal on 110 minutes from Jessie Lindgart. Palace was very well represented in the stands by passionate fans put on a very colourful display which was also very noisy

This will be the last match report to appear on my blog which after five years and six seasons is now closing. Thank you for your loyal readership over this time. It has been an honour writing about the famous Crystal Palace.

Samuel Burch (May 2016)

Crystal Palace 2 – 1 Stoke City

Now it turns that Palace can look to a cup final the first in twenty- six years since Palace reached the magical forty- point mark. Responding to a Charlie Adam goal a brace from Dwight Gayle has secured Palace’s survival. Palace controlled the game for large periods and although many a team would have given up Palace was expert in their tactics at holding up the ball and spraying the ball out wide. 

Wing play from Zaha and Bolasie marshalled the defence very well.

Pardew can be satisfied with a fantastic ending to 2016 that has seen Palace secure a top flight finish leading many to wonder where the club goes next, and with the likes of Leicester winning the league Palace may consider emulating them next season.

Yet Palace know given their history, football like all sports is notoriously unpredictable and can make fools of us all. Palace now prepare to enjoy a cup final which has been years in the making

Crystal Palace 0 – 1 Newcastle United

So it may prevail that despite another cup final against Manchester United it appears Crystal Palace might face relegation, an eight-point lead above Sunderland with two games left despite Sunderland having a game in hand.

Today Palace trailed on fifty minutes from a goal by Andros Townsend, Scott Dann, freeing himself from defensive attention to win a second half penalty which was uncharacteristically missed by Yohan Cabaye. The equation remains that Palace require three points from six available against Stoke City and Southampton to ensure Crystal Palace survive. The Eagles can now look forward to the FA Cup final 26 years to the day since Palace lost to Manchester United back in 1990. 

Hopefully Palace can maintain their premier league status. Honestly even if they cannot it would be nice to think a historic second FA Cup final would be superb because it would complete a 28yr cycle and a personal journey that included a Watford supporting Catholic babysitter, a Brentford supporting German friend, and a mate who supports Bournemouth where I had a fabulous year at university. Having followed Palace on preseason tours to Sweden and America had many adventures I believe it is time to pass the baton to the next generation.

I don’t know the future but I hope it is a prosperous one for the Palace. 

And so it happened… Magic of Cup sees Palace reach Wembley!

So it transpires after a difficult and disappointing 2016 there is light at the end of the tunnel as goals from Bolasie and Wickham meant Palace made the cup final after an impressive 2 – 1 victory emulated the side of 1990 in reaching an FA Cup final. Loud and Proud and very colourful.

 A magical day that I enjoyed very much was topped off by the appearance of the very happy Steve Coppell who had returned to watch his team emulate his achievement of 1990.

There have been many moments in time where I have felt lucky to achieve so much and do many fantastic things however from the end of the season I will be finishing my blog to concentrate on working for the licence vichelars association in Ascot in late 2016.

Much love, thank you let’s hope we win the Cup.

Samuel Burch

West Ham United 2 – 2 Crystal Palace

Goals from Damian Delaney and Dwight Gayle for Palace and Lanzini and Payet for West Ham meant the match ended 2 – 2. Yet the game changed when Kouyate was sent off on sixty-seven minutes. The decision to send off Kouyate was a controversial one as Mark Clatenberg chose red after the player made a controversial lunge on Gayle. This was Crystal Palace’s first point of 2016 and it drew a dent in West Ham’s top four aspirations as they are behind Arsenal and Manchester City.

 A good performance from Palace saw Damian Delaney gave them the lead early doors before West Ham came back with two quick goals to lead 2 – 1 at half time. Yet Gayle’s seventy-fifth-minute equalizer meant Palace moved a point further clear of trouble.

Palace moved a point further away from the relegation zone and a point closer to survival going into next week’s crucial clash against Norwich City at Selhurst Park. Clearly not distracted by an FA Cup semi Final against Watford, Palace played some attractive and flowing football and the point means with seven games left this season they should have enough points in hand to avoid relegation.

Palace make Wembley on a Mad stad evening 0 – 2

A penalty from Johan Cabaye and a late strike from Frazier Campbell meant Palace booked a trip to Wembley to Celebrate reaching the FA Cup semi final for the first time in 15 years in 1995.  stating it would be a challenge this time Pardew will lead his side out at Wembley for the first time in a cup competition since 1990/91, when Palace played both in the FA cup final and Zenith Data systems Cup.

Now Palace await an opponent from Mondays Draw, as a trip to Wembley may light up Palace’s league form with a 0 – 12 record which unless improved is relegation form. Emulating Wigan and winning the FA Cup but going down may eventually be seen as historically significant even if pragmatists may see relegation as financially disastrous and a failure.

Yet the game itself was comfortable for Palace with Cabaye controlling midfield and Papis Soure doing very well on the left hand side. Reading failed to grasp the nettle and Palace looked dominant for much of the match yet it was not until the last ten minutes that the breakthrough goals from Cabaye (Pen) and Campbell came out as Palace secured the victory.

Table toppers Leicester City come to Selhurst Park next Saturday hoping to carry their good form into the league and damage Leicester’s title ambitions.

Sunderland 2 – 2 Crystal Palace

Two goals from Conner Wickham for Palace and goals from NDoye and Borini meant events at the Stadium of Light ended 2 – 2. Two goals in six minutes from Conner Wickham put Palace 2 – 1 up before Borini’s equaliser.

The point lifts Sunderland out of the bottom three and means Palace pick up their first point in ten matches. It is with some relief that Sunderland lift themselves out of the bottom three. As for Palace their bad form continues winless since playing Stoke on the 19^th December dropping to 14^th place in that time.

Palace’s next match is against Liverpool while Sunderland face Southampton at St Mary’s Indeed Conner Wickham the ex- Sunderland player has found some form and this can be seen as a positive for Pardew going forward to the FA Cup quarter final against Reading. Pardew needs to drive this Palace team forward if they want to secure premier league status and the extra TV money that comes with it. 

Yet in reality football is a global product and relegation would be a nightmare given the fact that Palace’s history is littered with failures heroic and otherwise and means relegation would be a disastrous result. Yet alternatively should Palace secure six more points and survival, the FA Cup could make the season a memorable one. 

FA CUP 4th ROUND: Tottenham Hotspur 0 – 1 Crystal Palace

A fine Palace performance in the FA Cup the best in a generation saw Crystal Palace advance into the quarter finals of the FA Cup for the first time in ten years. Palace competed well in the first half and took the lead through Martin Kelly in the forty first minute of the first half.

Palace had great Swathes of possession but failed to generate any great attacking potency. The midfield was anchored by Joe Ledley, Yohan Cabaye Wilf Zaha and the effective return of Yannick Bolasie. Defensively Palace were formidable with Centre Back partnership in Scott Dann and Damian Delaney looking very good. Right back Martin Kelly scored the winner for the Eagles and on the other flank Joel Ward was collectively solid enough to see Tottenham off.

Players like Wilfried Zaha came to the fore indeed Zaha probably had his best game since his return to the club. Pardew will be a delighted manager with Palace’s progress to set up a quarter final in Berkshire against Reading. Two league games against West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland could see Palace safe in the Premier League by April with the cup offering a sparkling end to the season.

Crystal Palace 1 – 2 Watford

Two goals from Troy Deeney extended Palace’s winless streak to nine matches. Palace’s goal was scored by Palace debutant Emanuel Adebayeur but Palace lacked a cutting edge in the midfield as Watford dominated with Agallo and Deeney up front.

Early pressure from Deeney and Agallo pushed Palace back and truly tested the Palace backline. 

After Deeney scored for Watford, the Eagles equalised via Emanuel Adebayeur who scored on his debut. Yet in the second half Watford regained their control and when Troy Deeney scored his and Watford’s second and winning goal. Palace had no response from this point on. With Conner Wickham wasteful and Papis Soure needlessly sent off and given a three match ban the eagles were truly having a disastrous day.

So with Watford pretty now in 8^th place Palace are forced to face up to a lack of balance in the squad and poor tactical intelligence amongst the squad. A key issue that Pardew needs to improve on. 

The Eagles are forced to move on to an FA Cup 5^th round tie Vs Tottenham Hotspurs at White Hart Lane, and then a league game against former boss Tony Pulis and WBA. 

Swansea City 1 – 1 Crystal Palace

A Scott Dann equaliser from a Yohan Cabaye earned Palace an equaliser in South Wales. Swansea took the lead. Swansea took the lead and looked the better in the first half, when a foray forward earned Swansea a free kick, from which Gylfy Sigurdson gave the Welsh team the lead.

In driving rain throughout Swansea controlled possession but Palace did look lively on the break. In the second half Palace started well pushing forward getting a corner and from a mistake in the Swansea defence Scott Dann Slammed home the equaliser.

After six matches without a win this point may prove to be very useful in the short term as the point closer to survival which should be the prime aim given the early season talk about Europe. Survival and forty points should be the main aim. Palace face Watford next Saturday and then travel to spurs in the fifth round of the Fa Cup

Crystal Palace 1 – 2 AFC Bournemouth

A tepid performance from Crystal Palace saw Bournemouth take advantage of a weak Crystal Palace performance. The game saw a debut performance which was disappointing from Emanual Adebayour saw goals from Benick Afobe and Danny Pugh following on from a Scott Dann header giving Bournemouth the 2 – 1 victory. 

Life continues at a fair pace for the Cherries now seven points clear of the relegation zone in fifteenth place, with Palace in eleventh.

Palace winless in five matches next go to struggling Swansea looking to turn their form around.

Crystal Palace 1 – 0 Stoke City

A Goal from Wilfried Zaha slotted past Stoke City keeper Jakob Haugaard gave Palace a one nil victory that sees Palace advance into the fourth round. Plenty of opportunities came Palace’s way as they controlled the game throughout taking control and keeping stoke City at bay. Palace with Chemakh and Zaha and Campbell up front. 

In a game which seemed to pass in a flash Selhurst maintained a buoyant atmosphere that seemed to sway although the crowd was down by six or seven thousand on a premier league crowd and therefore totally different in emotional balance. A great sense of achievement can be taken by palace in the strides they have taken in the last five years to bounce back from administration shows the power of Palace to dispel the myth of poor play allowing the eagles to continue their ascent to the top. A place in the fifth round ample reward for supporting the club through difficult times.

Stability in the top flight is due credit to tony Pulis never relegated with Stoke and Gillingham and Alan Pardew who has premier league with West Ham, Newcastle and Southampton.

A Truly great team performance guided by Pardew’s movement from long ball football in the 1980’s to wing play now seen that uses Bolasie and Zaha’s pace. Zaha’s failed time at Manchester United’s youth retention policy than anything else, but a difference in the maturity of Zaha is clearly noticeable. The boy is becoming the man much to the benefit of Crystal Palace.

Matches in the next week against Bournemouth and Swansea allowed Palace to put their league form to the test possibly using Emanuel Adebayour a notoriously controversial figure who may well start by scoring some goals   

Crystal Palace 1 – 3 Tottenham Hotspurs

Goals from Nassir Chadli, Delli Alli and Harry Kane meant Spurs won 1 – 3 with a Vertonghan own goal Palace’s only strike. Tottenham move on into the top four but Palace maintain their current run of poor form and struggled with basic possession and given their position this was a very poor result. Spurs continued their good form and moved into the top four with this result. Europe awaits for Spurs after this victory while Palace still lack a striker given this disappointing defeat. Although Palace dominated the first half with a Vertonghan own goal giving Palace a 1-0 lead at halftime.

Palace’s current run of form is disappointing given their start to the season. Yet reality states Palace current run of form is disappointing given their start to the season. Yet reality states Palace survived more than one season in the premier league for the first time in history in 2013 so perhaps if Palace concentrate on capitalising their good start to avoid relegation rather than thinking about Europe.

Next week the FA Cup takes centre stage as Palace play Stoke, Yet given current form perhaps it may be easier for Palace to concentrate on the league given their current poor form  yet if they could go on a cup run the advantage of winning games cannot be underestimated.