August 13 2003

Dougie Freedman

As Palace's nine men clung to their narrow lead on Saturday, their 1,200 odd travelling fans belted out the seldom-heard chant: "We’re proud of you!" writes Joseph O'Shea

When the final whistle blew to cap a heroic performance, the sight of the whole squad, management and staff approaching the away end, hands loft in appreciation, said the feeling was mutual.

Hat-trick hero Dougie Freedman was quick to show his appreciation for the supporters’ role in what was a club-wide victory.

Freedman told the Guardian: "I have never heard that chant and the support was absolutely fantastic. I know the opening day is special for the fans and we definitely heard them whole game through.

"The players have got to make the fans proud of us, by playing for the shirt and I think we did that on Saturday."

Manager Steve Kember said: "I haven’t heard that for a long while. I thought our crowd support was first class. They made a lot of noise and kept the players going especially in that last 15 when we were down to nine men.

Last season, with the exception of Anfield and trouncing Brighton, chants of "Francis out" were common-place, and the negativity saw the players lose home leads against Portsmouth, Wimbledon and Sheffield United among others.

But Kember’s popular appointment appears to have lifted the gloom on and off the pitch.

Kember said: "I have said to the players that if this crowd see you having a go they will get behind you without a shadow of a doubt.

"Knowing the crowd over the years, what they won't accept is people not giving 100 per cent if they can see the players doing that they will get behind them every time."

Freedman said: "It's not one major thing, we trained all summer which got the lads together a bit and with the new manager there is a feeling of togetherness which saw us through the game on Saturday.

"It was very much a team performance. But it was only the first game and we have got to show that togetherness over 46 games and then it will be worth it."