January 6 2013

Stoke's Peter Crouch waves to his mum in the Main Stand

With Christmas turkey and New Year champers fast fading memories, Stoke City were held to a 0-0 draw at Selhurst in the FA Cup third round. Jamesey was there.

The FA Cup has become a waning attraction in recent times, but there's still something about the whole thing that strikes a chord with fans.

For the top dogs in the Moneybags League, winning the trophy is another gateway to Europe and an opportunity to stuff their coffers with even more moulah.

Then, of course, there is the "minnows and giants" aspect where the humblest of football clubs could get a chance to knock a big name name off its pedestal.

Well, Stoke City aren't exactly a "giant" and even our worst enemies could hardly call Crystal Palace a "minnow" but nevertheless for various reasons it was an interesting cup-tie that lay before us on a chilly mid-winter Saturday afternoon (Jan 5).

The Potters have been punching well above their weight this season and are currently in a comfortable mid-table position in the top tier.

The Eagles have, of course, been in promotion-chasing form and the match gave us all an opportunity to see how we would fare against far tougher opposition than has been the norm. In general the answer was: Quite well.

When the Stoke team ran out it was obvious that manager Tony Pulis wasn't mucking about and his line-up included two distinguished former England international strikers, Peter Crouch and Michael Owen.

Big names aren't often seen on the Selhurst turf nowadays and although the above-mentioned duo are well past their prime I was reminded of our 04-05 season in the Premier League when we entertained Manchester United. Sitting on the subs bench were Rooney, Ronaldo and Scholes...that was really taking the mickey.

Palace featured a slightly changed side against the Potters with Glenn Murray and Julian Speroni presumably being rested and Jermaine Easter and Lewis Price in their places.

Peter Crouch did us an immense favour by missing a point-blank open goal early in the game although his obvious height advantage meant he was always dangerous when the high balls were coming in and he's no slouch with his feet either.

Michael Owen really made me feel my age. In the match programme he was classed as a 33-year-old veteran although it only seems about five minutes ago that he was a teenage wunderkind with the world literally at his feet. However he made little impression on the game and was substituted early in the second period.

All in all, it was an entertaining and enjoyable cup-tie and the Eagles demonstrated that, despite the 0-0 result, they could give as good as they got to a top level side. Glenn was naturally sorely missed but the manager has to try other options sometimes.

Sitting on the Stoke bench and not used were two players with Palace connections. Carlo Nash was our popular second-string keeper in the late 90s until he moved on to Stockport County after 25 appearances. Matthew Upson also played for Palace during a brief loan period a 12 years ago and subsequently gained international honours for England.

And so, CPFC must travel up to the East Midlands for a mid-week replay. Ominously the Potters' home record at the Britannia in the league is formidable to say the least - won five, drawn five and lost none.

To make any progress in the FA Cup, Palace have a veritable mountain to climb although the prize would be a mouth-watering home tie against Manchester City..

Incidentally I hope the Nigelesque person with two teenage lads, who insisted on standing and blocking other spectators' view in Block Z of the Arfur until told to sit down by the stewards, reads this.

You, sir, are a cretinous idiot and an appalling example to the young people who accompanied you.

Email Jamesey with your comments to jevans3704@aol.com

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