November 12 2004

Crystal Palace

Games with two of the world's most successful clubs were on the menu and Jamesey went travelling.

Arsenal at home and Man U away, in the space of five of days - if you'd forecast that to me last February when I bought my (incredibly cheap for the Premiership, hee-hee) season ticket, I would have told you to shape up and steer clear of hallucinatory substances.

But it has happened and, still effervescent after our 1-1 draw with Arsenal (Nov 6), I found myself north-west bound the following Wednesday (Nov 10).

Normally, gaining a point at home would hardly be a big deal but to hold our own against a top global club and not remotely be outclassed was greatly satisfying.

Perhaps it raised our hopes too high for our League Cup tie against Man U at Old Trafford.

We all knew it would be Man U "reserves" versus Palace "reserves" but after our performance against Chortletown Pathetic - well, who could say?

An elderly couple with London accents were checking into my hotel and discussing the night's game. How nice, I thought, they've come up all this way to support The Lads.

Later I saw them in the bar wearing the red shirts of Man-Ure. Sickening.

It was my first ever visit to Old Trafford and whether you love or loathe the Reds, it is a magnificent arena for football.

Although it was many thousands short of full capacity, it was still the biggest crowd I have been part of since the Wembley Cup Final and replay of 1990.

Well, we lost the tie 2-0 and our defend-and-break tactics were less successful than of late, although their second goal looked a real gift from Speroni's viewpoint when I saw it later on TV.

A home draw and an away Cup exit are hardly the stuff dreams are made of, but when you are competing at the top level, success is always relative.

Another big bonus from my trip was the opportunity to meet one of the "virtual" friends I have made, after writing this column over the years.

Gillian, a dynamic and utterly charming lady, is a rabid Oldham Athletic supporter and a passionate admirer of their ex-manager, a certain Mr Iain Dowie.

She is also not altogether enamoured of Man U and when we met in the Trafford Hall Hotel bar was tirelessly trying to recruit as many north-west non-Reds as she could to go to the game and cheer on the Palace - alas, it was to no avail, bless her...

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