Palace travelled to West
London for their only preseason fixture in the UK. In what was a split squad
with new signings Hangeland and Campbell both sent to Forest Green to play in
an XI that included Club Captain Paddy McCarthy and striker Dwight Gayle.
At Brentford, Palace fielded
a strong squad but could not quite find a way to beat a solid Brentford team at
the end of their Preseason routine, and ready for their Championship bow
against Charlton Athletic next weekend. A game that would see Brentford take
their Championship bow with their first match back at that level in twenty one
years since 1993.
Palace played under the
captaincy of Australian World Cup goal scorer Mile Jedinak and fronted up with
a strong squad. Joe Ledley partnered Jedinak in midfield with Yannick Bolasie
and Jason Puncheon playing down the wings. Glenn Murray started up front on his
own with support coming from deep offered by Marouanne Chemakh. At the back
Wayne Hennessey started in goal with Julian Speroni playing the second forty
five minutes. Damian Delaney and Scott Dann was the centre back partnership
with Joel Ward and Adrian Mariappa playing the wingback positions.
In what was a watchable first
half that ended goalless both teams had opportunities but with Palace looking
somewhat lethargic after returning from their American tour, it was clear that
Brentford was further along their Preseason match fitness programme given their
big kick off against Charlton is only a week away. With the Premier League kick
off a further two weeks away, the biggest test of Palace’s preparations for
Arsenal on the opening day will come against Bundesliga Team Auchsberg in Bavaria
Germany next weekend.
Meanwhile at Griffen Park in
the second half, Brentford took control with two quick goals from Jonathan
Douglas and Andre Grey. The shock of the goals seemed to wake Palace up, and
with flares being lit in the away end Palace hit back with two quick strikes of
their own. Within minutes the lead was gone, Glenn Murray neatly finished past
David Button in the Brentford goal after a defender slipped to make it 2 – 1,
then Marouanne Chemakh tapped in an equaliser as red smoke from a flare caused
confusion in the box. 2 – 2.
Yet roared on by a passionate
home crowd Brentford’s record signing from Leyton Orient, Moses Odubajo
capitalised on an error from Delaney at the back to skip past Ward and score
past Speroni to give Brentford a surprising yet well-deserved 3 – 2 victory.
Next weekend Palace face
Auchsburg in Germany in what will be a tough test in preparation for their
League opener against Arsenal. Brentford meanwhile can look forward confidently
to the Season opener against Charlton Athletic in what is worth remembering
will be their first game in the second tier of English football for twenty one
years!
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