Palace aiming to end 26 years of suffering
CRYSTAL PALACe manager Alan Pardew urged his Wembley heroes to end 26 years of hurt after booking an FA Cup date with destiny.
Palace secured their place in the Final with victory over Watford yesterday where they will face Manchester United — 26 years after suffering Wembley heartache against the Old Trafford club.
Pardew played in the Cup Final and replay defeat in 1990.
Palace first-team coach John Salako also played in both games against United, which eventually saw Sir Alex Ferguson win his first trophy in england.
But Pardew has told his players to complete the job he couldn’t.
‘The 1990 run got a couple of mentions during the week — it’s difficult when John Salako is in the room,’ said Pardew. ‘He talks about it every five minutes.
‘I hope the destiny isn’t the same result. The scenarios are identical. But this is a different team, a different spirit in the team that we had then. But the characteristics are similar.
‘We had a similar side in 1990: hard working, diligent, good defenders, a little bit of pace on the attack.
‘United will have a difficult game in the Final. The guys can enjoy the build-up but we’ve got a bit of work to do in the league.
‘We’ll play a team who are, potentially, a great team. I’m pleased for Louis van Gaal that he’s got there. They’re the biggest club in the world. It’s a tough task for us and the game plan will be different, but we’ll buy into it. We have players who can hurt any team.’
Pardew will continue to delay signing a new contract at Selhurst Park despite taking the club to the FA Cup Final.
Talks over a new deal have been ongoing for months and are expected to come to a positive conclusion.
However, Pardew admits he still isn’t ready to put pen to paper.
‘I’m not ready to sign yet because the decision I made was I wouldn’t sign it until we’re mathematically
safe in the league,’ he said. ‘We have to keep our focus — or I do — to make sure the team is ready for three important league games.’
Yannick Bolasie gave Palace the lead in the sixth minute. A corner was flicked on by Damien Delaney and Bolasie sprang high at the back post to nod it over the line.
Watford equalised 10 minutes after the break when Troy Deeney met Jose Manuel Jurado’s corner and thumped a powerful header beyond Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey.
But Connor Wickham proved to be the hero when he netted the winner after 61 minutes.
Pape Souare’s cross sailed deep to Wickham, who climbed easily above Nathan Ake to produce a wonderful header which arrowed back across the goal from whence it came and bounced inside the post.