Crystal Palace 1 Stockport County 0 ( FA Cup Round 3) Sunday 12 January 2025

County put up a brave fight but exited the FA Cup, losing their Third Round tie against Premiership Crystal Palace 1-0 today at Selhurst Park.

Almost inevitably , the goal was conceded just 4 minutes into a highly charged game, and whilst County recovered to make a real contest of it, they just could not quite prise open sufficiently a Palace defence masterminded by England centre back Marc Guehi.

They had their moments, their chances- most notably 7 minutes after the Palace goal went in, when Tanto`s pace and persistence almost paid off for the first time, but Wootton was unable to apply a finish ,close in, to what was a definite but difficult chance.

Then, twice in the second half, with County increasingly making the Eagles star studded line up look unsure- Tanto`s fizzing pace and unquenchable tenacity almost squared our circle again- the home keeper making a vital if despairing save to deny him on the first occasion- the second, 5 minutes later, saw Tanto`s break halted by a poor foul by Jefferson Lerma that Referee Stuart Attwell, unaccountably chose to ignore.

In the end no one in the crowd of over 21000 would have been at all surprised had County pulled one back- then we would have really seen both teams metal under pressure, but it was not to be, the early goal was enough to see Palace through to Round Four.

For County the honours in defeat as they revert to league action , hopefully sorting their propensity to concede early goals in the process.

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County had a back 3 of Knoyle, Connolly and Pye, flanked by Southam-Hales ( Right) and Touray ( left) as the game got underway to the accompaniment of a constantly supportive cacophony from under the Arthur Wait Stand roof- County fans were up for it!

County looked to be doing OK, the first 3 minutes seeing Palace largely restricted to play outside the Hatters last third- even so we did see good defensive blocks from Connolly and then Pye .

Palace were finding penetration a problem, and then they didn`t as England ace Ebernechi Eze breezed into the box where a precise finish gave Corey Addai no chance at all.

We were 0-1 down and climbing a familiar mountain.

But County gave every sign of knowing what was required in the current situation , but it took them over 5 minutes to add penetration to possession and it came via Tanto who seized onto a long ball from Addai wide right, his instant control leaving his marker languishing in his wake as he looked goalward. A pacy ball fizzed across the face of Palace`s goal- the keeper was beaten, but sadly Kyle Wootton could not quite reach the ball and apply the required finish- a difficult chance was gone!

Palace came back to the fore after that escape, but I was far from happy with the near side liner whose flag stayed down as Jefferson Lerma ( at least 3 yards offside) was allowed to continue his run into the box- I was still fuming when a zonkingly excellent tackle by Macauley Southam- Hales stopped Lerma`s run.

We had a corner to defend, and Pye added his four pennyworth with another top class defensive block to deny the Eagles.

This defensive nous continued from County as Palace won and failed to make anything of, 3 corners in rapid succession.

It had to be said that there was real quality in the home line up , particularly their forwards , we really needed to keep our guard up all the while, and we were again indebted to Southam- Hales who produced another excellent tackle to deny Sarr as he ran onto a dangerous through ball in the box !

It was 23 minutes in before County got their first shot on target – when Camps darted clear, but his effort did not overly trouble Matt Turner the home keeper.

Bailey followed that with more work for Turner to do 5 minutes later as County , urged on still by over 3000 Stopfordian voices, began to peg Palace back.

We needed to be disciplined though with the likes of Eze constantly sniffing for scraps for Palace – we did not need to be defending free kicks, but a silly foul by Wootts saw us doing just that, fortunately Eze made a hash of his kick, but could we rely on that recurring?

Into the last 15 minutes of the half, we saw County go as close as they had so far- Touray`s cross headed on by Wootton to where Tanto had a battle royal with Lerma and the keeper at the foot of the post- Tanto lost out , but it showed what was possible…….

We always had to keep an eye out for a Palace break even if County were enjoying possession- and Knoyle did well to deny the highly rated Eddie Nketiah , keeping him from a ripe old cross from Sarr, with 10 minutes remaining of the half.

Into the last 5 minutes of the half then, and we got another sample of Tanto`s withering pace and what it might do to the home defences- their obvious trauma leaving them transfixed as Touray took the loose ball lifting it into the box where Wootton`s header grazed the wrong side of the post!

That was so unlucky, and we were very nearly caught cold almost on half time as Eze was given room to embark on a run into the box- a definite chance was this, but his effort flew across goal and out- chance gone!

There was time for County to hit back in added time – a late/ late free kick seeing Tanto win a corner, that sadly Referee Attwell did not allow to be taken , blowing the half time whistle – his equivalent of the middle finger in County`s direction…..sad !

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A loud chorus of “ O Tanto Olaofe` rang out repeatedly as the second half started , and within a couple of minutes the encouragement almost paid off as his opportunism and persistence forced defender and goalkeeper to spill possession in his direction, Sarr eventually stopping the rot for Eagles by hooking the ball clear with Tanto lurking.

That was good if ultimately disappointing, irritation followed next as County overdid the cool passing at the back – Connolly saving the blue bacon with a fine defensive intervention.

But, having had the merest whiff of success, Palace were encouraged ,putting County under pressure – drawing excellent responses from Ethan Pye- first in doing just enough to ensure the dangerous Nketiah `s shot went wide of goal, and again as a neat through ball from Munoz threatened.

It went on- Palace attacking – Addai showing firm resolve in holding onto Lerma`s header from a free kick, on the hour.

County brought Norwood on for Bailey at this juncture, as Palace were pushed back on the defensive.

Suddenly Palace looked unsure….slightly rattled by County`s press- Turner having to make a despairing last gasp save to keep Tanto`s shot out after he had won possession from nowt !

Palace survived that one but might not have done so a second time , 6 minutes later, had Referee Attwell been on top of his job.

Sadly he proved to be just exasperating as Tanto`s run to the edge of the box was abruptly curtailed by him being hauled to the deck by Lerma.

Free kick on the edge….penalty…..red card….which one ?…..but the ref gave the moment zero consideration waving County`s claims away without delay!

Tanto went one on one with keeper later and I was slightly surprised to see him substituted late on , being replaced by Icelandic youngster Breki Andersson.

County continued to press - none more so than Southam-Hale whose pacy run drew a vital defensive header from Munoz to save the day for Palace.

But that vital slice of good fortune eluded them.

We might have made more of the odd opportunity along the way- a free kick with 3 minutes left that we sent straight down Turner`s throat.

Thankfully Palace were surprisingly blunt where it mattered ,Lerma played clear, but so obviously offside a minute later then , having drew Addai , lifted his effort high into the crowd!

Six minutes added time came and went with County continuing to press for that elusive equaliser.

And there was time in the game`s dying embers, for Addai to distinguish himself with a late save, before we headed off for the coach home.

A disappointing result, but a decent performance against a team liberally laced with star quality so we head back to the league with heads held high knowing with more of the same in what remains of the season and we will be well placed to finish where we want to.

See you at Reading !

Crystal Palace line up:-

Turner , Guéhi, Riad, Richards, Muñoz, Lerma, Kamada, Clyne (Schlupp, 77), Eze, Sarr (Devenny, 64), Nketiah.

Subs not used: Matthews , Mitchell, Lacroix, Kporha, Doucouré, Mateta.

Stockport County line up:-

Addai , Knoyle (Mingi, 84), Touray (Rydel 77), Camps, Olaofe (Andrésson, 77), Southam-Hales, Collar, Pye, Connolly, Wooton (Diamond, 76), Bailey (Norwood, 62).

Subs: Hinchcliffe , Hughes, Fiorini, Gardner.

Attendance: 21124 ( 3402)

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