January 24 2017

Selhurst Park crowd

Crystal Palace have always specialised in entertainment, but John Winter asks which are the greatest matches of all time?

Crystal Palace 4-3 Liverpool (semi-final), 1990

In September 1989, after just coming up to the top flight, Steve Coppell’s Palace suffered one of the worst on-pitch disasters we have ever known. We went to Anfield and met a Liverpool side who, and there’s no hiding from this part, smashed us 9-0, the club's worst-ever league defeat. Which is why we were less than pleased to meet them again in the semi-finals of that year’s FA Cup as a reward for knocking out Cambridge in the previous round. Our first semi-final since 1976 took place at Villa Park and we had only revenge on our minds.

Despite this, after an untidy first half for both teams, it was Liverpool who led at half time, courtesy of a solitary goal from Ian Rush. Immediately after the break, however, the Eagles bit back with goals from Mark Bright and Gary O’Reilly. It took only a few minutes for Liverpool to peg us back though through Steve McMahon before John Barnes scored from the penalty spot to put the Scousers ahead.

And yet, with the last kick in normal time, the ball was lofted into Liverpool’s box and Andy Gray out-jumped the Reds defence to head in for 3-3. Finally, in extra time, ex-boss Alan Pardew of all people bundled the ball into the Liverpool net and we were off to Wembley having won what many still believe to the best FA Cup semi-final ever.

Palace 8-0 Southend United (League Cup), 1990

Later the same year, first Coppell led the Eagles to their biggest League Cup win ever in September when Southend United visited Selhurst Park. In the team fondly remembered for Mark Bright and Ian Wright leading the charge, both stepped up to put the Shrimpers to the sword. Brighty hit a hat-trick as did Wright, before substitutes Glyn Hodges and Garry Thompson also found the net in style to complete the rout. Not a close or exciting game this one, but one worth remembering for therapy’s sake given that Liverpool had handed out a 9-0 beating a few months earlier. Remember the good times and all that.

Palace 1-0 Sheffield United (play-off final), 1997

We were harshly defeated in the play-off final to Leicester the previous season, but made no mistake a year later when the Eagles secured promotion by way of a 1-0 victory over Sheffield United. Both us and the Blades were there by surprise, both having been considered the underdogs in the qualifiers against Wolves and Ipswich Town, so a close match was expected and that is exactly what happened. With nothing to separate the sides, the match was decided by virtually the last kick, when David Hopkin scored a gem of a goal to send the Eagles soaring back into the big time.

Palace 1-0 Watford, (Play-off final) 2013

Sadly, we only managed one year in the Premier League that time, but it did give us practise for other, repeat occasions. Like in 2013, when the same score line ended in the same outcome for Palace. Veteran Kevin Phillips hit the only goal of the game from the penalty spot at the end of the first half of extra time against Watford in a tight Championship play-off final encounter at Wembley.

This put an end to an eight-year absence from the Premier League, while also seeing Palace join Ian Holloway's old side Blackpool as the most successful team in play-off history, with four promotions each. Comforting thought should the unthinkable happen under Big Sam this year. It won’t though of course. Will it?

With current odds around the 5/4 mark, the online bookmakers seem to think it might. But, with a side packed with quality coupled with the drop dodging experience of Big Sam, it’s hard to see Palace not regrouping in time to mount a survival charge, given the time left in the season just yet. Never the less, we should admit to ourselves that our relegation rivals are starting to show their hand now and we need to do the same too.

I love betting, its quick and convenient these days with football tailored online gambling sites & bookmaking apps for smartphones. I’m not sure which way I’d call it right now with the ever-unpredictable Palace. As a loyalist, I’m going to go with the Eagles still being in the Prem next season but would I bet on it?