December 14 2008

Shefki Kuqi

We had to huff and puff in the second half but ultimately got the right result - a 2-1 victory over Doncaster Rovers. Jamesey reports.

I have been getting rather lax in my column contributions recently, being unable to go to any away games and missing the Southampton home game on Dec 8.

So, it was second-hand Barbour de-mothballed, and a sortie down to Selhurst on a chilly, dreary, drizzling day.

Anyone who is interested enough to read this column will have realised that I am a natural-born pessimist. I honestly try to overcome this aspect of my character and always attempt to look on the sunny side when it comes to Palace.

However, I couldn't help but think that the scenario on Saturday, Dec 13, was perfect for a Palace pessimist. A lovely little run created, four wins and a draw in the last five games, and a home match with a team of CCC strugglers to consolidate matters. It was just too good to be true.

In the early stages of the first half, Donny looked the better side. Players in the smart, stylish red-and-white hoops and black shorts looked well more than a match for the be-sashed whites. And, of course, they scored the first goal.

But our new-found hero, Shefki Kuqi, rampaged into the Rovers box, was felled, snatched the ball from Shaun Derry's clutches and scored from the resultant penalty kick. Delight all round.

Unfortunately Shefki hobbled off not long after that but the penalty, along with the Donny sending-off, changed the course of the game and the second half saw Doncaster trying to hold on to a draw as wave after wave of Eagles attacks desperately tried to nab the three points.

The Palace team made us wait until almost full time before Alan Lee scored a cracking winner... what a relief. The pessimist in me was silenced, I am overjoyed to say.

Whether 1995 is far enough back to talk about nostalgia I don't really know, but that's the year one of the Rovers substitutes arrived at Selhurst Park.

Still going strong at the age of 35, Gareth Taylor was bought as a promising young striker (he could play centre back as well) for a fee that could have risen to £1.25m - pretty big money even now, never mind 13 years ago.

Regrettably Gareth turned out to be one of our big mistakes and, after two goals in 20 appearances, he was shunted off to Sheffield United where he fared somewhat better.

I can still remember his beanpole impressions and floppy haircut as he attempted, unsuccessfully most of the time, to win the ball.

Never mind, good luck to you, Gareth. Any player still performing in the "second division" at such a senior footballing age deserves our respect, if not admiration.

In conclusion, I have not bought any food or drink within the confines of Selhurst Park for a few years. It is too expensive and lacking in quality.

But I was so cold and shivering by half-time that I decided to do my Keynesian duty for the nation and purchase a hot drink. Not much change in the gourmet position at Selhurst... £1.40 for a beaker of luke-warm Bovril.

Note that, Gordon, when the next OBEs are lined up for distribution. I am helping to spend the UK out of economic recession.

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