Devastated at Forest, delighted at Palace – Archie Gray has experienced the full range of football’s emotions in the last couple of weeks.
Caught in possession as Forest took the lead on 14 December, Archie, still only 19, showed his character at the City Ground, continually looking to take hold of the ball – part of his footballing make up instilled into him by his father, Andy. Indeed, Archie almost equalised within minutes at Forest, his volley kept out by John Victor.
Selected for his fifth game on the trot, Archie responded with his first senior goal to beat Palace at Selhurst Park – his first for us on his 60th appearance in all competitions – showing a goalscorer’s instinct to nod home from close range after Randal Kolo Muani and Richarlison won headers from Pedro Porro’s corner.
The contrast in emotions wasn’t lost on Archie afterwards. “It was a difficult, difficult game for me at Forest,” he said. “I think the mistake, it was obviously my fault, but I just tried to get on the ball as much as I possibly could and tried to be positive. Today still wasn't, you know, the best game, it was a bit of a scrappy game but to get the goal is something that every child dreams of.
“My dad's always said to me, ‘just go and get on the ball, don't be scared’ and I think that stuck with me. After that mistake happened at Forest, I'd never go and hide from the ball or anything like that. It's not something that I've ever done and ever will do. If I make a mistake, that's football sometimes. I'll just have to learn from that - and I have. I've been working in training every day to put it right.”
As for his goal, Archie reflected: “I just found myself in the right place at the right time. You know, it was probably Richy's flick that did all the work. I was two yards out from goal, so I didn't really have much to do. It's an incredible feeling to get the goal and the three points, that’s the most important thing.”