So it has arrived. Selhurst Park under lights filled to capacity for the biggest cup game in a decade, the ground pulsating with excitement and hope, the mighty Cardiff City between us and Wembley. (Ha ha unlucky Man Utd.) Eleven exciting Palace players in a squad of seventeen, with the opportunity to become club legends heroes delivering them to Wembley. For only the second time in the cup playing history of Crystal Palace Football Club we have a shot at making a major domestic cup final. The 2012 Carling Cup Semi Final has arrived and it is an opportunity for Crystal Palace to shine.
Before the match much of the talk was of a severe sickness virus that had strichened much of the palace team and left them down to the bare bones over the Christmas period and playing a team of youth and academy players in the tight FA Cup defeat against Derby County. Indeed sickness talk was so prevalent that the naming of the Palace team was delayed till after 6pm just before kickoff. Yet when it came enough of the first team were fit that we looked strong on paper and fans around the club were wondering was the hoohaa around team selection a fantastic Freedman rouse to confuse Cardiff. In the end it was only Nathanial Clyne who was out and Sean Scannell on the bench who were affected by the mystery virus.
The atmosphere was pumping at kick off a fantastic ‘Wembley Park’ banner hung hopefully over the Holmesdale Road End which was a sea of red and blue, noise was deafening and smoke hung in the air as Cardiff City fans let off a smoke bomb misting the still January air. Noise rang round the stadium and expectation, nerves, and hope were churning up the pit of my stomach as the game got underway. The game was important, exciting, so why then did the next ninety minutes feel like I was being whipped by a sadist? Probably because the game was very open and Cardiff started well and had a number of chances as they looked to exploit a palace side that started slowly and off the pace. Indeed later in the second half Palace rode their luck and Cardiff scored what looked like a legitimate goal only for referee Mike Dean to disallow it.
In all fairness if I were a Welshman I would have been annoyed putting it politely with the decision. The key moment in the match came at the end of the first half when Antony Gardner headed into an empty net after an Ambrose free kick was knocked on by the Jedi(nak) leaving Cardiff keeper Tom Heaton in no mans’ land as Gardner did the business at the back post. It proved to be the only goal of a tight open and very tense game coming in the perfect period just before half time. Gardner was superb all game illustrating his skill and defensive consistency from his Tottenham days for the national and international TV audience.
The whole team were ultimately set up to defend on the night. The energies of the entire cup run were channelled into not conceding an away goal and keeping a clean sheet leading to a nerve shredding evening. (As mentioned earlier tendencies to enjoy mental torture anyone.) In all seriousness massive credit to Dougie Freedman, Lennie Lawrence ant Tony Popovic for Palace’s defensive tactics they got it spot on. If Freedman continues to manage in such an astute and effective manner he will be a manager until he is old and grey. Although still a rookie boss Freedman is becoming more experienced all the time and his knowledge of and passion for Crystal Palace gains the respect of all his players. There will be more tests to come but he has the ability to face these challenges. It is also an impressive Palace record to beat Brighton, Millwall, and Manchester United away in the same season little own his first full season as a manager.
Intense tight and nerve shredding goes only so far as to explain the emotional rollercoaster of Tuesday night, trouble is it is only half time in the tie and Cardiff City will come very, very strong in the second leg. The emotional ringer will only get worse in Wales but bring it on because the prize is huge and there is a place at Wembley at stake. The 24th January 2012 is a day of massive significance in the history of Crystal Palace Football Club but as yet we do not know for what glory or pain. The 2012 Carling Cup Semi Final is at half time and we lead 1 – 0 with the security of not conceding an away goal. Take nothing for granted though the tie is on a knife edge, be brave lads and become legends. Wembley awaits! EAGLES
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