Burchy Blog: Extract Five
3/10/11
I have to say I have not stopped buzzing since last Tuesday night. I woke up last Wednesday floating on air with a happy, life is good feeling running through my veins, and I have to say that feeling stays with me as I write on Monday after the West Ham match. It is of course the historical victory over Brighton on Tuesday that gives me, and every other Palace fan the previously described emotional feeling. Not only was it a first ever league defeat for Brighton in their new stadium but it was a defeat emphatically forced upon Brighton by their biggest rivals in a dominant fashion. Especially satisfying for us Eagles followers was that it was former Seagull hit man Glenn Murray who rounded off the scoring in stoppage time, reminding his old employees (who’s fans booed his every touch) where his bread is now buttered and where his loyalties now lie.
Yet clearly the most amazing and satisfying element of such an important result to Palace’s loyal away following was the dominant nature of the performance which writing earlier and against Brighton’s current good form I was not sure was going to come. The pleasing nature of the three goal comeback in the last ten minutes made it the most memorable and exciting ten minute spell Palace have played away from home in years. It made me forget the baron eighteen months previously endured on the road. The desperate away performances seem not to matter as Palace had scored three goals in ten minutes at their bitter rivals new stadium to record a historic away victory. It was certainly the best away day enjoyed by the Palace faithful since Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough in 2010.
I maintain that key to the victory was our fans passion for the occasion, the noise from the away end was immense deafening all night, and Freedman’s greater understanding of this passion for this fixture from the fans compared to Gus Poyet contributed to the emphatic result. This passion was certainly understood by the players and permeated their performance in everything they did on the pitch. The desire for this result came from every part of the club, the fact we also crushed the holier than thou ego of our biggest rivals gives all palace fans an unrivalled sense of satisfaction. (Even if their stadium is quite nice)
On the night and in the week building up to the match no one was under more pressure then Glenn Murray because of his obvious successful previous Brighton association. His performance was all the more impressive and his goal all the more significant and painful to the home fans. He was one of the best players on the pitch, and his commitment to the Palace cause, desire for the fans could never be questioned. He showed a degree of dignity and class in choosing not to celebrate his goal despite the best attentions of Brighton’s boo boys on the night. He is on his way to legendary status at Palace,(like AJ and Dougie in this fixture) if he is not there already. A word also for the youngsters, Jonathon Williams and Wilf Zaha were fantastic making this season memorable and enjoyable for everyone, offering hope and a post administration freshness for the possibility of big things for the future. Again at the Ammex they were the best prospects on the pitch.
What a fantastic buzz, but I end my reflections on the Brighton thrashing with a question; I arrived early at the Ammex to secure a safe secured and disabled parking space to generally observe, stay safe and mind my own business. As part of this I did not where my usual colours and as a precaution I removed my Palace car stickers for anonymity. My question is now we have won should Brighton and Hove Albion pay for new car stickers? Answers on a postcard please.
So briefly to the West Ham United match, ahead twice early in each half as the buzz from the Brighton stuffing was creating an energetic atmosphere carrying the players and crowd through. The Holmesdale Fanatics excelled themselves with a ‘know your place Brighton’ banner but credit to West Ham who pegged us back twice and adjusted their tactics excellently to get back in the match. One of the best teams at Selhurst this season they will be a force in the Championship this year, and in the promotion shakeup. Having said that we were not under huge pressure at any point and in some respects we were unlucky not to hold on for a win. To me Manual Almunia is a poor goalkeeper but for Palace moving forward the significance of Murray and Ambrose going two from two and finding goal scoring form should not be underestimated.
S B
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