AJ fires Palace to play-off places

May 1 2004

AJ scores again

Crystal Palace moved into the play-off zone after beating Walsall 1-0 at Selhurst Park.

There some days which will go down in history. Maybe not from the results point of view, or the game itself. I believe that today was as big a day as when we played Blackburn in 2000.

Who remembers that day, Cole and Morrison sending us crazy, Jansen not celebrating scoring, Coppell throwing his jacket into the crowd at the end, the card display by the HOL...memories of which live long for me, and today is no exception.

It was quite simple, we needed to win, nothing but 3 points was going to be enough. This has got to be the closest finish for years. Sunderland,Ipswich, Wigan, Reading, Sheff Utd and West Ham are all still in it with us, and with just 2 games to go. It was going to be nail biting stuff.

I was fortunate to meet a number of friends in the William Stanley Wetherspoons pub before the game and it has to be said, the mood was bouyant. We were going to win. We knew it. It was a question of how many. Walsall were there for the taking, only 1 goal in 5 games, surely we couldnt blow it. Not now..

Arriving at the ground, seeing the masses of people outside, and walking down to the Holmesdale, I felt that this was going to be our day.

The 1st half certainly lived up to the pre-match pub expectations, we were all over them!! We were dominating proceedings, Routledge, Aki and Gray all running riot. Indeed the constant stream of crosses from both wings, while being dealt with by the Walsall defence, showed how desperate we wanted to win it.

After only 15 minutes, the news we didnt need, West Ham taking the lead against Watford. However, we started to turn the screw on Walsall. Derry fired a free kick high and wide, but it was from the dead ball situations that we looked most dangerous.

30 minutes on the clock, and if proof was to be that it may not be our day, this was it. Routledge, skipping past 2 challenges was unceremoniously brought down. From the free kick, Butterfield found the head of Shipperley, whose header was tipped over by Walker. From the corner, Derry again found Shipps, but Walker managed to scramble it away.

This was the story of the first half, as Walsall came to defend and came for a point. With only Bradbury up front, and 5 at the back, the fear of relegation loomed large for the Saddlers. They played without a lack of cohesion going forward, but with the inspired Walker in goal, managed to keep us at bay. Indeed Walsalls' only chance came in the last 5 minutes, when a Wrack failed to connect to a ball across the 6 yard box. The threat was there.

The 2nd Half was more of the same, we kept on battling and fighting. Aki was making mincemeat of the midfield and was indeed unlucky not to score when from another set peice, his header was palmed away from Walker just after the hour.

Dowie, decided to mix things up and go for the win by removing Derry for Freedman in the 65th minute. Bradbury finally managed to get Walsalls' first shot on target shortly afterwards.

But patience was to be the name of the game, and Walsall's negative approach was paying off. They were frustrating us, as each time the final ball was cut out. Johnson, who had been well marshalled all afternoon, had hardly seen much goal in the second half. But once again, he was going to be the hero and was to be called upon to work his magic, one last time at home this season.

Dowie, with only 10 minutes left, made more bold substitutions, Butterfield being replaced by Black, and Watson for Aki. Then from another attack, finally, Mr Pugh gave a decision our way. Paul Ritchie was adjudged to have pushed Black in the area, he pointed to the spot. 5 minutes left on the clock. All four sides of the ground erupted. Walsalls players rushed to the referee, but his mind was made up.

My nerves could not take much more of this. Johnson and Freedman played head tennis in the penalty area while the referee remonstrated with the Midlanders. When all the kerfuffle died down, Johnson, who had been scoring penalties for fun over the last month, needed to do so one more time. Although, Walker had done his homework and managed to push AJs shot out, but straight back out to him, and AJ does not need more than that as he buried the shot in and with 4 minutes left, utter pandemonium broke out.

The next 4 minutes or so went by in a flash. Walsall needing now to score to save themselves, came forward but as they did so,left gaps at the back, and Freedman, Gray and Johnson all found themselves with time and space to put the match beyond all reasonable doubt.

Then, its all over. We won! We celebrated like we were in the playoffs...then once the TV showed that results, had gone our way, Wigan had lost..we were in 5th...and now have it all to do again, next Sunday at Coventry. 1 point will be enough.

What made the day for me, was the next few moments. Dowie came forward to do his trademark punch, but this time it was just the one punch, but he did so with his 2 kids, which made the day just special. Dowie has left his own support network back in Oldham, so to see the smile on his face with his kids was just priceless at the end. We stayed behind, wanting the team to do the customary lap of honour, which didnt happen. But we sang and chanted each players name, to which they acknowledged the crowd in turn. Except Gray, who never even looked up while warming down. Maybe this will be the last time we see him at Selhurst Park.

Not to be outdone, Doogies son produced a moment, which will live with me forever. Upon chanting the name of the Doogster, which he returned with claps to the Holmesdale, he looked down at his son, who then in turn stopped walking (he must only 2 or 3) looked up and raised and clapped his hands above his head. It brought a tear to my eye and I dont think I was the only one.

Today was a day when, for the 1st time in a long time, the media have sat up and taken notice. We are gradually making all the papers, the BBC interviewed Dowie on Football Focus. Dowie has now given us the one thing that we have been lacking for years,respect. We are now a team to be feared and respected. We are no longer a joke club. Jordan, true to his word 4 years ago, has changed the perception of us. Dowie has galvanised this. Johnson,Aki and all the others personify it. We are no longer pushovers.

Bring on Coventry.......

Report by "The Saint"

Crystal Palace: Vaesen, Butterfield, Leigertwood, Popovic, Granville, Routledge, Riihilahti, Derry, Gray, Johnson, Shipperley.

Subs: Freedman, Berthelin, Watson, Black, Borrowdale.

Walsall: Walker, Bazeley, Ritchie, Roper, Aranalde, Wright, Osborn, Andrews, Wrack, Bradbury, Emblen.

Subs: Leitao, Merson, Kris Taylor, Fryatt, Kerr.

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