" Match report Palace v Cardiff 28th April 12 "

Who would have believed it was the end of the season, not going on the weather as besides it being wet it was damn cold as well. Adding to the fact it was an early kick off well if things did not go our way it could turn out to be one right miserable day.
This was to be an ex-pat day with me Derby man, driving down to meet up with Luton man, Luton Bluebird, from there getting on the train to meet up with Brighton man, In the Bowls, at the Witherspoons Thornton. We were joined by Romford man, Romford Bluebird, where we settled down for a few drinks.
A couple hours later we started to make our way to the ground. However we ended up in another pub because someone told us the forum bus had taken over it. Basically this was a pit stop as we were soon on our way again. Loads were in fancy dress which was a good thing because the area definitely needed brightening up. What an absolute dump this place was.
I recall following the crowd with people I knew then next thing I was on my own. I think I had over done it with the beer again. Luton Bluebird found me wondering and before I knew it I was in the ground.
At Palace the away supporters are located at one end of the side terracing. We did not know this at the time but it was to be the best place they could have put us. The sections were full and the atmosphere was electric. Now Palace have got noisy fans but I did not hear one note of song from them. This was just like the old days at Ninian Park.
Cardiff defended the goal in front of us. The other goal was well over there to our left. It looked a long long way or was that the beer. I waited for mother nature to quickly sober me up, that is kick off time which seems to have done the trick after all these years.

Cardiff attacked from the start and should have taken the lead after 3 minutes. A thunderous low shot from 25 yards by Lawrence saw the home keeper struggle to collect the ball. Mason was onto it quickly and looked likely to score only for the keeper to recover and block his shot for a corner.
Cardiff dominated the early stages with Lawrence terrorising the Palace right flank. Crosses were going into the area but nobody was there to finish them off. Us away supporters were willing for that goal to settle the nerves but the worse was to soon happen.
Palace struggled to keep the ball and were reverting to some nervous passing around their own box just to sustain the Cardiff attack. Then they finally broke out of their area with their midfield managing to hold onto the ball. This allowed their defender to finally break free from their goal. One of these defenders collected the ball just inside his half on the touch line and then sent a blinding pass that split the Cardiff defence. Palace were playing a lone striker and he found himself with only Marshall to beat. He coolly slipped the ball under the advancing keeper to score against the run of play.
Us Cardiff fans were stunned, really stunned and a few felt it was all going to happen again.
From the restart Palace seemed to lay back and invite Cardiff to attack them. Lawrence was the main attacking force down the right. Working with Mason they opened up the Palace defence. Mason forced his way6 to the byline and sent a powerful low shot across the goal that only need to touch to it. Unfortunately no one in blue was there to tap it in.
A couple of crosses from Lawrence produced on goal headers that did not trouble the keeper. Cardiff then reverted to long shots with Miller, Mason and Gunnarson blasting over. It was all Cardiff but the final 3rd was not there.
You could feel everyone around starting thinking about the Watford Boro game. However no one was saying anything so no news was good news. Besides we were dominating and surely it was only a question of time before we scored, surely it was.
Just before the break Cardiff were awarded a free kick just outside the Palace area and to the left. The wrong side for Whittingham. For once Cowie was about to have a try but his effort although well placed had no power it and the Palace keeper easily got across to collect.
The referee blew for half time. The feeling amongst everyone was we should get something from this. We were dominating, surely it was only a question of time.
Second half kicked off and all the action was to be in front of us. The away support of over 3,000 of us must have been like an extra player. Cardiff moved the ball around superbly in front of us. One moved found Miller in space. He sent a low shot across the 6 yard box that evaded everyone.
Cardiff continued to dominate down this right flank in front of us and were awarded a free kick a few yards from the corner flag. Palace lined up their wall as Whittingham stood over the ball. Now us fans could see this gap in the defence and revealed the far post. All it required was a guided missile free kick and that is exactly what Whittingham produced. The ball just flew down this air gap of a tunnel and the next thing the ball was in the net. The whole Cardiff team celebrated in front of us and it honestly felt no one was going to stop us getting that deserved play off spot.
From the restart Palace tried to get in the game but just could not break the Hudson Turner line. In fact it was Cardiff who went for it. Once again all the play was in front of us supporters. It looked like Palace were quite content to hang on with what they had but Cardiff smelt blood.
Desperate defending won a throw in front of us and about 3 yards from the corner flag. Gunnarson sent one of his high and long throws into the 6 yard area. Hudson knocked the ball back around the penalty spot and before it could land Cowie volley it into the back of the net.
That was it, is away fans went for it. Some poor woman in front of me was thrown around like a rag doll. Her husband thought it was amusing thank God. When I looked up all the Cardiff players were in front of us celebrating. This now felt like our day.
From the restart Palace opened up but were now exposed at the back. Cardiff took advantage and just played their football in the Palace half. Although Palace had a nippy winger it was going to take more than one man to get past our defence.
Then the news started rippling through that Watford had scored. It has got to be said but on one was bothered now. It was going to take an absolute disaster for us to blow this. This did not feel like last season or the season before.
Cardiff saw the game out with ease. We were all celebrating well before the final whistle and just wanted the game over so we could celebrate with the players. The final whistle came and we were soon joined by the team and Malky who walked across the pitch. As for the Palace manager Dougie Freedman, well he soon disappeared. He must have been scared.

A rollercoaster of a season that is not over yet. Whatever happens though, I don’t think anyone can disagree now that is has been a successful season. In fact one or two of us could have egg on our faces if it gets any better.

\
Great report Ian, really did feel a bit like the old days, with our fans

Great report matey, as always

My dog was hoping for a mention though

See u soon buddy!!

Nice one Ian

Who would have believed it was the end of the season, not going on the weather as besides it being wet it was damn cold as well. Adding to the fact it was an early kick off well if things did not go our way it could turn out to be one right miserable day.
This was to be an ex-pat day with me Derby man, driving down to meet up with Luton man, Luton Bluebird, from there getting on the train to meet up with Brighton man, In the Bowls, at the Witherspoons Thornton. We were joined by Romford man, Romford Bluebird, where we settled down for a few drinks.
A couple hours later we started to make our way to the ground. However we ended up in another pub because someone told us the forum bus had taken over it. Basically this was a pit stop as we were soon on our way again. Loads were in fancy dress which was a good thing because the area definitely needed brightening up. What an absolute dump this place was.
I recall following the crowd with people I knew then next thing I was on my own. I think I had over done it with the beer again. Luton Bluebird found me wondering and before I knew it I was in the ground.
At Palace the away supporters are located at one end of the side terracing. We did not know this at the time but it was to be the best place they could have put us. The sections were full and the atmosphere was electric. Now Palace have got noisy fans but I did not hear one note of song from them. This was just like the old days at Ninian Park.
Cardiff defended the goal in front of us. The other goal was well over there to our left. It looked a long long way or was that the beer. I waited for mother nature to quickly sober me up, that is kick off time which seems to have done the trick after all these years.

Cardiff attacked from the start and should have taken the lead after 3 minutes. A thunderous low shot from 25 yards by Lawrence saw the home keeper struggle to collect the ball. Mason was onto it quickly and looked likely to score only for the keeper to recover and block his shot for a corner.
Cardiff dominated the early stages with Lawrence terrorising the Palace right flank. Crosses were going into the area but nobody was there to finish them off. Us away supporters were willing for that goal to settle the nerves but the worse was to soon happen.
Palace struggled to keep the ball and were reverting to some nervous passing around their own box just to sustain the Cardiff attack. Then they finally broke out of their area with their midfield managing to hold onto the ball. This allowed their defender to finally break free from their goal. One of these defenders collected the ball just inside his half on the touch line and then sent a blinding pass that split the Cardiff defence. Palace were playing a lone striker and he found himself with only Marshall to beat. He coolly slipped the ball under the advancing keeper to score against the run of play.
Us Cardiff fans were stunned, really stunned and a few felt it was all going to happen again.
From the restart Palace seemed to lay back and invite Cardiff to attack them. Lawrence was the main attacking force down the right. Working with Mason they opened up the Palace defence. Mason forced his way6 to the byline and sent a powerful low shot across the goal that only need to touch to it. Unfortunately no one in blue was there to tap it in.
A couple of crosses from Lawrence produced on goal headers that did not trouble the keeper. Cardiff then reverted to long shots with Miller, Mason and Gunnarson blasting over. It was all Cardiff but the final 3rd was not there.
You could feel everyone around starting thinking about the Watford Boro game. However no one was saying anything so no news was good news. Besides we were dominating and surely it was only a question of time before we scored, surely it was.
Just before the break Cardiff were awarded a free kick just outside the Palace area and to the left. The wrong side for Whittingham. For once Cowie was about to have a try but his effort although well placed had no power it and the Palace keeper easily got across to collect.
The referee blew for half time. The feeling amongst everyone was we should get something from this. We were dominating, surely it was only a question of time.
Second half kicked off and all the action was to be in front of us. The away support of over 3,000 of us must have been like an extra player. Cardiff moved the ball around superbly in front of us. One moved found Miller in space. He sent a low shot across the 6 yard box that evaded everyone.
Cardiff continued to dominate down this right flank in front of us and were awarded a free kick a few yards from the corner flag. Palace lined up their wall as Whittingham stood over the ball. Now us fans could see this gap in the defence and revealed the far post. All it required was a guided missile free kick and that is exactly what Whittingham produced. The ball just flew down this air gap of a tunnel and the next thing the ball was in the net. The whole Cardiff team celebrated in front of us and it honestly felt no one was going to stop us getting that deserved play off spot.
From the restart Palace tried to get in the game but just could not break the Hudson Turner line. In fact it was Cardiff who went for it. Once again all the play was in front of us supporters. It looked like Palace were quite content to hang on with what they had but Cardiff smelt blood.
Desperate defending won a throw in front of us and about 3 yards from the corner flag. Gunnarson sent one of his high and long throws into the 6 yard area. Hudson knocked the ball back around the penalty spot and before it could land Cowie volley it into the back of the net.
That was it, is away fans went for it. Some poor woman in front of me was thrown around like a rag doll. Her husband thought it was amusing thank God. When I looked up all the Cardiff players were in front of us celebrating. This now felt like our day.
From the restart Palace opened up but were now exposed at the back. Cardiff took advantage and just played their football in the Palace half. Although Palace had a nippy winger it was going to take more than one man to get past our defence.
Then the news started rippling through that Watford had scored. It has got to be said but on one was bothered now. It was going to take an absolute disaster for us to blow this. This did not feel like last season or the season before.
Cardiff saw the game out with ease. We were all celebrating well before the final whistle and just wanted the game over so we could celebrate with the players. The final whistle came and we were soon joined by the team and Malky who walked across the pitch. As for the Palace manager Dougie Freedman, well he soon disappeared. He must have been scared.

A rollercoaster of a season that is not over yet. Whatever happens though, I don’t think anyone can disagree now that is has been a successful season. In fact one or two of us could have egg on our faces if it gets any better.

bah did not get a mention, i was the only sober one