April 26 2011

Neil Danns

Even Jamesey wasn't around for the Dunkirk heroics in WW2 but he was proud of the Eagles' spirited display against Leeds Utd...

It was a blazing hot day (April 25) at Selhurst, more like torrid August than brisk spring.

Neil Danns, to use the old cliche, definitely had a game of two halves, scoring Palace's winner in the second minute and being sent off in injury time although after such a significant result, it is unlikely he will be too bothered.

All in all, it has been Easter tidings of some joy after a troubled season - four points out of six and our survival prospects are looking pretty certain.

Leeds brought more than 5,000 supporters out of a 20,000-plus crowd and although they were expectedly loud to start with, the early goal took the shine of their vocal efforts. The Palace support outsung them for most of the game and even the Main Stand joined in with some enthusiastic singing.

After a bad day at the office against the Scunnies nine days previously, the Eagles dominated most of the first half and all but exorcised the lacklustre performance with an excellent display.

David Wright's return to the side shored up our hesitant midfield and Darren Ambrose wasn't missed in the slightest. Even Wilfried Zaha showed that he can add to our defensive strengths when needed and isn't just a showboating attack merchant.

The second half was another matter and we seemed to sit back too deeply and allowed Leeds to come back at us. Or maybe the strength of the Leeds comeback forced us to play more deeply than we wanted. More expert analysts than I can answer that.

I have to admit that on the evidence of many performances this season I doubted that we had the resilience to resist the Leeds resurgence. But the fates were on our side and poor Leeds finishing and dogged defending kept the score at 1-0 when the final whistle blew.

I would not be telling the truth if I didn't say that at full time my own relief and pleasure and, with fingernails chewed to the knuckles, I greeted a victory for which I had barely dared to hope for.

As I write, with two more games until the season's end, Palace look almost certain to survive. Preston North End are down and unless Scunthorpe and Sheffield United can conjure up a few miracles or the Eagles and Donny lose by cricket scores, we are safe.

However, it is always worth remembering the lessons of 1993 when we took a lap of honour to celebrate Premiership survival and then saw Oldham win their last three games to send us down.

Nothing's over till it's over.

Email Jamesey with your comments to jevans3704@aol.com

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