CRYSTAL PALACE 2 HUDDERSFIELD 0
THE symmetry of it all was inescapable. Huddersfield’s first Premier League game was here at Selhurst Park 15 months ago.
Under David Wagner’s tutelage they won 3-0 that day, fans wide-eyed and bursting with optimism — almost as if they were dreaming it all. An afternoon etched into the hearts of the Terriers faithful.
Football, particularly in the Premier League, comes at you quickly, however.
Huddersfield’s second top-flight visit to Selhurst Park was just as unforgettable.
Back in south London, where their dreams became a reality, Huddersfield waved goodbye to the big show — their loss to Crystal Palace courtesy of Luka Milivojevic’s penalty and Patrick van Aanholt’s strike condemning Jan Siewert’s side to relegation after Burnley and Southampton won their respective matches.
It has been a long time coming, of course. Three wins all season tells its own story.
It doesn’t make the pain any less harrowing, however. Those balmy days back in August 2017 a distant memory.
Their crestfallen players, utterly dejected, just stared into space as news of their fate filtered through.
Supporters tried their best to raise spirits; they’ll be on hand to go through all of this again next year in the Championship. But with owner Dean Hoyle said to be open to offers for the club, who knows what the future holds.
Nevertheless, what a ride it has been for the Terriers. But all good things come to an end.
In contrast, Palace’s win should see them safe for another season. Yet there appears to be a growing contingent of dissenting voices amongst their fanbase.
On two occasions boos rang round Selhurst Park yesterday. Victory, however, should keep those disgruntled few quiet for the time being. It may appear Palace have little to play for between now and the end of the season, but how Roy Hodgson’s men end the campaign could yet have a significant bearing on how the summer develops at Selhurst Park.
‘We played today’s game under an enormous level of expectation and enormous tension, I actually warned the players about it before the game, said Hodgson. ‘But our crowd is great, they do their very best — they are worried too. They knew if we could just win this game it would give us a calmer end to the season and you felt on the field, you felt that coming from the crowd and I don’t blame them for it.’
Whatever gripes supporters had with their clubs were put to one side in the 13th minute when
all four sides of the stadium rose in unison to applaud Damary Dawkins, the youngster who played in Palace’s development squad who passed away earlier this month after a battle against leukaemia.
Early on, supporters had very little to get excited about.
Michy Batshuayi created the first chance in the 16th minute, his shot blocked by Christopher Schindler before Wilfried Zaha nodded just wide shortly after.
But Huddersfield should have been ahead at half-time; Vicente Guaita produced two brilliant stops to deny Chris Lowe in quick succession before Karlan Grant, with just the keeper to beat, saw his attempted chip head towards the touchline.
Palace fans booed their team off at the break. Hodgson, stoney-faced, walked towards the tunnel like he was oblivious to it all. However, he’d have been forgiven for thinking ‘why?’.
Palace weren’t the ones who were about to be relegated.
Zaha missed the first chance of the second half, denied by Schindler’s last ditch challenge.
By this point, Southampton and Burnley were winning, meaning all that was needed for the relegation dominoes to fall into place was a Palace goal.
Andros Townsend squandered a gilt-edged chance to put Huddersfield out of their misery.
Christian Benteke replaced Batshuayi in the 73rd minute; to spark a second outbreak of jeers from the home fans who clearly didn’t agree with the decision.
By now, Huddersfield were on the ropes, merely waiting for Palace to strike the killer blow. And the end finally came in the 76th minute when Milivojevic sent Ben Hamer the wrong way from the spot after Juninho Bacuna tripped Zaha before Van Aanholt put the result behind doubt two minutes from time.
‘We’re going down,’ roared the visiting fans. Their attempts at gallows humour were admirable, but they were fooling no one.
There is no place like the Premier League. Huddersfield and their fans are about to find out.