Archie Gray’s first senior goal ensured our 2025 finished on a high note as we enjoyed a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon.
The 19-year-old midfielder nodded home from close range shortly before half-time at a cold Selhurst Park for the only goal of the game on what was the 112th appearance of his fledgling career and 60th in our colours.
We had to weather the storm at times as Palace dominated for much of the game, although we did see two Richarlison goals disallowed for offside and hit the post through Wilson Odobert, but in the end we dug deep and ground out an important result to bring the curtain down on the year.
Thomas Frank made two enforced changes to the team that started against Liverpool last time time out – Cristian Romero and Xavi Simons were both suspended so Kevin Danso and Richarlison stepped in. Japan international defender Kota Takai took his place on the bench for the first time.
Palace had some promising moments in the opening quarter-of-an-hour without troubling Guglielmo Vicario, while we had the ball in the back of the net on 17 minutes, Richarlison tucking home a lovely low Pedro Porro cross but it was ruled out by VAR as Lucas Bergvall was offside in the build-up.
Jean-Philippe Mateta struck a right-footed drive just wide shortly afterwards before sending a header over from close range after Maxence Lacroix had nodded back across goal in the 27th minute. Ten minutes before the break Adam Wharton latched onto a stray Djed Spence pass deep inside his own half but his shot was comfortably saved by Vicario.
We’d been on the back foot for much of the half yet took the lead on 42 minutes thanks to Gray’s big moment. Pedro Porro’s deep corner was met at the back post by Randal Kolo Muani, Richarlison flicked it on and there was Gray to nod home from three yards out. It might have been his first senior goal but it’s unlikely he’ll score any easier in his career!
We took a slender lead into the interval but it was Palace quickly out of the blocks again at the start of the second half, Yeremy Pino with an early chance but his effort took a deflection for a corner, which came to nothing. They had a glorious opportunity to level on 55 minutes, Pino’s cross headed back into the six-yard box by Nathaniel Clyne only for Justin Devenny to blaze over with a shot on the turn.
Palace substitute Eddie Nketiah flashed a ball across the face of goal as the Eagles continued to press as the game entered its final quarter. Lacroix then glanced a header just wide before we fashioned our first effort on goal of the second period, Odobert cutting in off the left flank and curling a shot into the arms of Dean Henderson in the Palace goal. We thought we’d added a second with 15 minutes remaining, Richarlison tucking home a Mohammed Kudus cross on a breakaway, only for VAR to once again intervene and disallow it, our Brazilian forward this time offside. Richarlison then fired straight at Henderson as we started to see more attacking opportunities in the final minutes, with Odobert rifling a smart low effort against the post in another near miss.
In between those chances, there was a return to action for Radu Dragusin, coming off the bench for his first appearance since an ACL injury suffered in late January. That meant a back five to shore things up for the final minutes and, not only did we do just that, but almost added a second seven minutes into stoppage time when Pedro Porro cut back for Rodrigo Bentancur whose effort was well saved by Henderson. That was the last chance though as the whistle blew moments later, giving us three huge points on the road in front of our fantastic and noisy travelling fans.