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.