Player & Tactics
Analysis
| Crystal Palace (1) 1 | Arsenal (2) 2 |
| Dyer 35' | Anelka 2' |
| Bergkamp 28' | |
| Attendance : 15,674 | |
| Referee : Mr M J Bodenham | (East Looe) |
| Team : | Miller, Ismael, Edworthy, Smith, Gordon, Roberts, Hreidarsson, Rodger, Fullarton, Brolin, Dyer |
| Subs : | Nash, Linighan(Brolin 82'), Emblen(Roberts 82'), Ginty, McKenzie(Smith 67'). |
| Booked : | Gordon (Sent off), Dyer, Ismael. |
Player & Tactics Analysis |
| Reports from: | The Daily Telegraph by Christopher Davies | The Times by Brian Glanville |
 Ray Bateup's ReportPre-match rumours that Steve Coppell had already relinquished his managerial role in favour of Steve Kember were fuelled by Coppell's absence from the touch-line. However, Coppell did appear at the dug-out 30 minutes into the match and still appeared to be in charge. Palace got off to an abysmal start conceding a goal just 63 seconds after kick-off. A defensive howler by Hermann Hreidarrsson allowed Anelka to run on and lob the ball over Kevin Miller. But just 5 minutes later the iceman attempted to make amends with a speculative 25 yard effort that was well-wide of the target. Palace looked liked a team devoid of spirit and and completely lacking in confidence and Arsenal were looking good for an easy win. On 15 minutes, Dixon's 30 yard drive landed on top of the Palace bar with Miller well beaten and Anelka, two minutes later, came close with a shot on the turn from the edge of the area. Arsenal were in the driving seat and Palace were nothing more than spectators at that stage with their characteristic sloppy passing and a tendency to go to sleep at the back. Dennis Bergkamp, back from injury, fired wide from an 18th minute free kick and Boa Morte looked to have the Gunner's second goal when he was put clean through but good work by Miller saved the day. Palace's first worthwhile attempt on goal didn't come until the 23rd minute when Bruce Dyer turned his marker. Sadly his finishing was no match for his approach work and the chance was lost.
If I had just contracted 30 million pounds of my own money to buy the club I might have sat back in my seat and reflected ruefully on my moment of madness. However, to give the Palace side credit, they didn't hide. They dug into their reserves and somehow scraped out some spirit and commitment and gradually started to edge their way back into the game. Their newly-found passion paid dividends on 35 minutes when Palace's first serious attempt on goal was pushed away for a corner. Hreidarrson got his head to the flag kick and Bruce Dyer forced the ball over the line. But, Palace still remained fragile at the rear. Once again, Anelka was put clean through but his poor finish made it easy for Miller. Palace were finishing strongly and giving their all in an attempt to get back on terms, but Arsenal almost secured their third goal following another Hreidarrson error. The Icelandic player, in attempt to play the ball out of defence, lost the ball leaving Bergkamp with just Miller to beat. Fortunately, for the Eagles, the Dutch international's angled shot just cleared the far post and Palace deservedly went into the break just one goal down. It was a very quiet start to the second half with neither side having a clear cut chance. But Palace were still pushing forward and, if the silence of the North London fans was anything to go by, Palace were doing well. It wasn't until the 62nd minute when the second half sprang into life. Brolin played a wonderful ball out of midfield that picked up Dyer who was clear away but, sadly, his shot was placed too close to the keeper and he managed to pluck it out of mid-air.
In a final throw of the dice, Steve Coppell called Roberts and Brolin to the bench in favour of Emblen and Linighan but the substitutions did not have the desired effect. Time was running out for the Eagles and Arsenal, sensing that victory was near, stepped up a gear and finished the stronger side. Platt, Overmars and Anelka all came close in the closing minutes but Kevin Miller was in superb form. Despite tonight's defeat I saw enough passion and commitment to suggest that Palace, with a new direction, might still summon up enough to escape relegation. As they say, 'out of the cup, so now we can concentrate on the league'.
Report from The Daily Telegraph by Christopher Davies
A new era for Crystal Palace, but the same old problems as Arsenal completed the fourth meeting between the clubs this season with a 2-1 win in the FA Cup fifth-round replay. Defensive misjudgments cost Palace dear but the home side made light of Dean Gordon's first-half dismissal to make Arsenal fight much harder for victory than they must have envisaged when the visitors led by two goals. Arsenal had some of their more established players back for this game following the shadow side's 1-0 win over Palace in the Premiership on Saturday. While Arsenal deserved their win it was not a convincing display by the visitors, who at one stage looked like winning with ease. It had been a significant day for Palace on and off the field. Director Mark Goldberg finalised his £30 million takeover, though Ron Noades will remain chairman until October when the 34-year-old computer mogul assumes full control. Goldberg said he was "very hopeful" that Terry Venables would return to Palace, where he was in charge when his side were prematurely dubbed the 'Team of the Eighties'. The pair will be meeting soon and Steve Coppell, the present manager, has agreed to become development director of football in the new management structure. Juventus, the Italian champions, will have a 10 per cent stake in Palace and Goldberg is aiming to transform the club into a European force within five years. For the opening half hour last night it was embarrassing to mention Palace and Juventus in the same breath as the home side conceded a goal after just 61 seconds. Coppell abandoned the wing-backs and switched from 5-3-2 to 4-4-2 with Hermann Hreidarsson - who has marked Dennis Bergkamp effectively in previous meetings - given a zonal role in the centre of defence. In the tie's first significant move Bergkamp, who for once did not have the Icelander within inches of him, sent the ball into the Palace danger area and Hreidarsson failed to clear. Nicolas Anelka took advantage of this slip to lob Kevin Miller. The ball struck an upright and as Anelka and Valerien Ismael, the Palace defender, challenged for possession, the ball crossed the line. Ismael may well have got the last touch but Anelka rightly claimed the goal. Palace's defence was pulled all over the place by a rampant Arsenal. Even Lee Dixon fancied his chances of scoring but his 30-yard half-volley skimmed the top of Miller's crossbar. Dixon then turned provider for Luis Boa Morte, who was through one-on-one only to see Miller make a fine diving save at his feet. The tie seemed to be over as a true contest after 21 minutes when Dean Gordon brought down Anelka five yards outside the Palace penalty area. The foul denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity and while Martin Bodenham is among the most lenient of referees, perhaps mindful of the one-game ban handed out to Dermot Gallagher on Tuesday the Ferring official showed the Palace left-back the red card. More punishment was to come. From Bergkamp's free-kick Marc Edworthy inadvertently deflected the ball and Miller was wrong-footed. Another own goal? Technically, perhaps, but the record books will show Bergkamp as the scorer. In the 35th minute Alex Manninger was belatedly called into action when he made a fine diving save from Bruce Dyer. From Simon Rodger's right-wing corner Hreidarsson headed the ball on and while the effort was blocked on the line, Dyer bundled the ball home to give 10-man Palace hope. As tempers raised, David Platt was booked for the fifth time and faces a suspension and Bergkamp moved to within one caution of another ban when he stopped a free-kick from being taken. Even Arsene Wenger could not defend the Dutchman on this occasion. Whatever their individual shortcomings, there was no shortage of heart for Palace as they battled against the numerical odds. They should have equalised in the 62nd minute when a pass by Tomas Brolin put Dyer clear but his shot went straight into the grateful arms of Manninger. Then Miller parried a shot by Marc Overmars and from the rebound Anelka shot wide with the goalkeeper stranded.
Report from The Times by Brian Glanville
After a day of drama and upheaval, Crystal Palace crashed out of the FA Cup, conceding a first-minute goal, giving away another immediately after Dean Gordon had been sent off, but rallying commendably to reduce the deficit. Arsenal, making an abundance of chances, with the benign assistance of a curiously fallible Palace defence, might have had many more. But their aim too often was erratic, Miller was a resourceful goalkeeper and, once Bruce Dyer had put Palace back into the game, the score remained at 2-1.
Palace were deploying four across the back but their rearguard was a fiasco. Dixon had a left-foot shot which bounced on top of the crossbar, Ismael contrived to get on the wrong side of Boa Morte after Dixon's pass, Miller plunging gallantly at the winger's feet; though it should have been another goal. Then, after 27 minutes, Gordon, moving across from his left-back position, rashly brought down Anelka, and, since he was the last man, was legitimately sent off. Worse was immediately to follow. Bergkamp thumped in the free kick, which struck Edworthy's hapless head and careered past the unfortunate Miller. Much to their credit, Palace's ten men did not repine. After Keown's error, Dyer got away for a shot that Manninger saved for a corner. Rodger curled it in from the right, Hreidarsson got his head to it, Manninger saved, but Dyer, with another header, made it 2-1. Arsenal should certainly have scored again when Anelka found himself clear for a second time and perhaps sheer surprise accounted for his feeble shot. There was still time before the interval for Vieira to send Bergkamp through, but his shot just cleared the post. The second half saw Marc Overmars, who had only just returned from playing in the United States for Holland, come on, and thrice come close to a goal. When Boa Morte found him, his shot was saved by Miller, who saved from him again when the Dutchman was set up by Platt. Close to the end, Overmars had yet another shot turned for a corner, via the post.
Steve Coppell, Crystal Palace's besieged manager, insisted that while Ron Noades remained chairman of Palace, he himself remained the manager. "I'm not quitting from this club, and I'm not walking away from it. Crystal Palace means a lot to me," he said. As for the game: "The goal was great for us from a corner. At 2-0 down with ten men, you're just playing for pride. Once you get a goal, you've got a chance. We made it difficult for them in the second half, but didn't really threaten."
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