The FA Cup fourth round replay between Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Selhurst Park on Tuesday Feb 02, 2010.
It might sound perverse to describe an FA Cup fourth round replay as the most important match in the history of any club but, when you are in administration, a one-off prize-fund of some £427,500 is some incentive.
Crystal Palace duly rose to the occasion last night to set up a televised Valentine’s Day meeting with Aston Villa and justify every conceivable cliché about the romance of the FA Cup. Incredibly, all three of their goals were scored by Danny Butterfield, usually the club’s right-back, in the space of just six second-half minutes.
Having scored just seven goals in eight years at Palace - his last on Boxing Day in 2008 - it was an extraordinary achievement. With a header, a right-footed goal and a left-footed finish, it was also the “perfect” hat-trick on a night of near perfection for Palace.
There might have been positive noises emanating on Tuesday night from their administrator, but the team-sheet certainly represented another reality check for Crystal Palace supporters.
Having been able to field only three substitutes in the 2-0 defeat against Newcastle, Palace doubled that number last night yet were still one short of their maximum quota.
Of those on the bench, manager Neil Warnock was also forced to select five teenagers. The £2.5 million sale of Victor Moses to Wigan might have provided precious funds amid total debts of around £32 million but there is an inevitable on-field impact.
On Tuesday night it manifested itself with Danny Butterfield, usually a defender, again lining up among the Palace forwards.
Warnock used his programme notes to graciously thank Moses for his contribution and predict that he will soon be “terrorising” Premier League defences.
There was, however, rather less complimentary words for the way some clubs had tried to use Palace’s plight to their advantage.
“Some of the offers we had were quite disgusting,” he said. “We had Fulham and Chelsea trying to sign up some of our younger players. It just shows us what happens when the vultures are out, and I can only say well done to the administrator for turning down such pathetic offers.”
Warnock’s belief in the existing quality at Palace was certainly substantiated by their performance at Molineux when they came within six minutes of eliminating Wolves at the first attempt.
They were also the far more threatening team last night in what was a first half largely devoid of incident.
Having turned down a January move to Wolves, Nathaniel Clyne produced an outstanding cross for Darren Ambrose, who shot narrowly over. Nick Carle then had two excellent chances in quick succession.
The first was well blocked by Michael Mancienne and he then grazed the post with a left-footed effort from the edge of the six-yard box.
Warnock had been typically animated on the touchline and reacted with predictable fury when Jody Craddock’s elbow connected with Alan Lee’s forehead shortly before half-time. It looked accidental but left Lee requiring treatment to stem the flow of blood.
With Wolves utterly impotent, Mick McCarthy’s patience was evidently wearing thin and he would have expected an immediate reaction when Chris Iwelumo and Sylvain Ebanks-Blake were both introduced after an hour.
It certainly changed the game, but completely in Palace’s favour. Next came what will surely prove to be the most unforgettable six minutes in the career of Danny Butterfield.
From Ambrose’s corner, Matt Lawrence’s header was brilliantly saved by Wayne Hennessey only for Butterfield to convert the rebound.
A goal-kick from Julian Speroni was then won by Lee, with Ambrose diverting the ball into the path of Butterfield to finish emphatically beyond Hennessey. A truly magical few minutes were completed when Butterfield latched onto Lee’s flick and sealed the tie.
“Danny for England,” chanted the Palace fans, whose joy was hardly muted by a late Karl Henry consolation.
Match details
Crystal Palace (4-3-3) Speroni; Clyne, Lawrence, Davis, Hill; Danns, Derry, Carle; Butterfield, Lee, Ambrose
Subs: Scannell, Andrew, Djilali, Comley, Wynter, Mann
Wolves (4-3-3) Hennessey; Zubar, Berra, Craddock, Spearman; Henry, Mancienne, Milijas; Foley, Vokes, Mujanga Bia, Ebanks Blake, Surman, Hahnemann, Jones, Halford, Iwelumo, Castillo
Referee: L Mason
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