April 24 2005

Selhurst Park

On Saturday evening (Apr 23), CPFC are out of the relegation zone, for the moment at least, after a superb 1-0 win over Liverpool, writes Jamesey.

Well, who'd have thought it?

The roller-coaster has been really rollering and coastering in the past week.

*Last Saturday (Apr 16), a fine performance at home to Norwich, but only one point harvested after a 3-3 draw.

*A depressing 1-0 defeat at Blackburn midweek (Apr 20) brought back the gloom and depression.

*And then today...we only had to beat Liverpool, possibly European Champions League finalists!

Blow me, we only went and won, and won in some style too in my view, although it must be said that Liverpool looked a little under par for one reason or another.

So the 04-05 relegation saga goes trundling on.

When I first saw the fixture list last summer, and observed that Chortleton away was our last game of the season the following May, my instinct told me that much could depend on that one.

Lets hope that Clowntown are as charitable as they were at Norwich today and lose the match 1-0.

But somehow I doubt it.

The last time I saw us play the Scousers live was in our Cup 2-0 triumph at Anfield in February, 03.

That victory was even more of an upset than today's and was one of the very few golden moments in Trevor Francis's leaden reign.

On my way to the game, outside Norwood Junction station, I bumped into a veteran Eagles supporter of my own vintage - the larger-than-life Scotsman, Alex Catto.

Alex has devotedly followed the Palace for more years than we both care to recall.

Since his decision to change his seat to another area of the stadium, I see him only rarely.

Anyhow, Alex dragged me, protesting, into the Legion Club in Selhurst Road for an ale, and there, as if in the Land That Time Forgot, was a magnificent collection of veteran Palace faces.

So that's where they all got to.

Alex insisted that I rub his lucky Palace badge for a victory although superstition has no place in my life.

But it was St George's Day and, by George, we won...

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