All is still
to be decided in the second leg of this playoff as Palace secured a goalless
draw at Selhurst to take to the Ammex on Monday night. An attendance of over
23,000 supporters packed into Selhurst for a pulsating evening under lights
ready to witness another historic chapter in the Crystal Palace vs Brighton
rivalry. The match was a far tighter affair then either league encounter
somewhat reflecting the size of the prize at stake.
Neither team
wanted a heavy defeat going into the second leg. Brighton started well, but
their neat football was matched by Palace’s endeavour, work rate, and the
intense atmosphere inside the ground, an atmosphere stoked by the bitter
animosity between the rival fans. Add to this the prize of Wembley and the
chance of promotion for the winners and no single set of Palace V Brighton
matches has ever had such national attention placed upon its results.
This tie was
always going to be decided at the Ammex in the second leg. The first leg was
always going to be tactical. A managerial battle of wits between Holloway and
Poyet and as such Williams started with Jedinak, KG Dikgacoi, Garvan and Zaha
in midfield. Brighton remains Dobbie’s parent club until July 1st and as such he could not play.
Yannick Bolasie, Kevin Phillips, and Wilbraham started on the bench as Holloway
played Murray as the lone man upfront. Brighton matched up with Palace with the
dangerous trio of Ulloa, Lopez, and Orlandi all so effective in Palace’s defeat
at the Ammex in March all starting.
Palace
matched Brighton’s neat football with an intensity and work rate that was
second to none. Although Albion started strongly Palace was driven on by a
passionate and partisan crowd and this brought them into a competitive match
more and more as the first half developed. There was no sign of the struggle for form
that had so marked the end of the home side’s campaign. Brighton could and
perhaps should have led at half time. Julian Speroni brilliantly foiled Dean
Hammond’s powerful header. In the second half Williams, before cramping up, was
beginning to significantly influence midfield. He narrowly failed to convert a
brilliant Wilfried Zaha cross, but in a game of few clear cut chances a crucial
moment was about to impact on Crystal Palace’s season.
On sixty six
minutes Palace’s thirty one goal striker Glenn Murray fell awkwardly while
jumping for a ball and appears to have damaged his cruciate knee ligament. The unfortunate circumstances
of Murray’s injury failed to knock Palace out of their stride, instead it drove
them on. There was a determination not to give anything away going into the
second leg. It may even have been better for Palace as Danny Gabbidon’s header
was cleared off the line by a combination of Orlandi, Kuszczak, and the post.
At half time
in the playoff semi final situation the goalless situations means the tasks for
both sides in the second leg is clear. Winner takes all. There is everything to
play for at the Ammex. Brighton’s resources give them a possible slight
advantage along with a partisan crowd one thing is certain the weight of
expectation has shifted firmly onto Brighton. If the game at the Ammex reflects
the scarcity of opportunities at Selhurst it could be a long night. The tie now
has echoes of last season’s League Cup Semi Final with Cardiff that went to
penalties and Palace may need to draw on last seasons’ cup experience.
Massive
credit should go to this Crystal Palace team. There is a sense of never giving
up and led by ‘The Jedi,’ Captain Fantastic and Crystal Palace Player of the
Year 2013 Mile Jedinak the team reflects a steely determination. The foresight
of owners Steve Parish and Steve Browett to appoint Ian Holloway and keep a
momentum going this season means the possibility of Wembley and possibility of
promotion lies in reach, one excellent away performance away. Whether or not
that away performance is possible depends on the conclusion of the tactical
playoff battle between Ian Holloway and Gus Poyet at the Ammex on Monday
evening.
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