The scene was set. It was Family Day at Selhurst, a good home crowd off the back of the recent great form. The expectation all adds up to one thing. Pressure. Something that the lads had played without during their six match unbeaten run. Could this be a seventh?
The game started as the crowd expected, domination from Palace, Burnley had not had a shot on goal. Then they did, in the 26th minute, McCann slotted past Julian Speroni after the latter had tipped the initial shot onto the post. A great saved should have been rewarded but Palace were slow to react and to Burnley taking the lead. It got worse, an truly speculative effort from Paterson looped into the top corner over Speroni and we suddenly found ourselves in the same position as we did at home to Cardiff. The team looked shell shocked, as did the crowd, we didn't deserve to be losing but we were. We struggled to compose ourselves but a goal back before half time came through Wilf as perhaps expected after a great through ball from the wonderful Andre Moritz. That was the half, 2-1 to Burnley and we had a chance.
The 2nd half began as the 1st ended, Palace on the attack and it paid off, Wilf again to level the game up at 2-2 on 53 minutes. Then it was the turn of Delaney who has been magnificent in a Palace shirt since he signed. A wonderful take by Joniesta of a high over hit cross who turned it back into the box for Delaney to score from a deflection. His celebration said it all in from of the Holmesdale faithful. The comeback was complete but the game was far from over. Glenn Murray had to get in on the act and did so from a Moxey cross to make it 4-2, but it was a nervous end to the game as Austin made it 4-3 after another slip from Delaney. Perhaps a new boot contract is on the cards for the centre back.
Certainly, Palace never do things the easy way as us fans know only too well but the majority of the 20k crowd went home pretty happy after being very entertained.
View from TheEaglesBeak; The defeat at Bristol City has long gone, we are seeing a completely different team, one full of confidence and ready to take on all comers. I've said it already but I'll say it again, all aboard the red and blue bandwagon. It's rolling and picking up pace!
01 Speroni
14 Blake
21 Moxey
27 Delaney GOAL 66
28 Ramage
08 Dikgacoi
15 Jedinak
30 Moritz (Garvan 83)
07 Bolasie (Williams 64 - Parr 74)
16 Zaha GOAL 41, 53
17 Murray GOAL 75
Unused substitutes; 34 Price, 02 Ward, 10 Garvan, 09 Goodwillie,18 Wilbraham
Referee; East
Attendence; 20,863
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