Crystal Palace

Gary Rose
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Reuters

Eddie Nketiah has struggled to live up to his £30m price tag since joining Crystal Palace from Arsenal last August, but his two goals against Wolves showed the type of finishing he is capable of.

Having scored just one Premier League goal for the Eagles all season., he grabbed two very-well taken goals on Tuesday night.

His first was a clinical finish into the far corner before he showed good anticipation to meet a square ball across goal for his second.

There was celebratory atmosphere around Selhurst Park with this game coming just days after Palace's historic FA Cup win after beating Manchester City in Saturday's final.

But Nketiah will be celebrating this performance and result as he looks to kick on next term and find the back of the net more regularly.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Crystal Palace's performance

What did you make of Wolves' display?

Come back to this page on Wednesday to find a selection of your replies

There are two Premier League matches being played this evening, and you can follow every kick on BBC Sport.

• Crystal Palace v Wolves

• Man City v Bournemouth

Both kick-off times 20:00 BST

Follow all of the action and reaction here

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If you could dream of a perfect ending to a 13-year stint at a club, it would probably involve ending ending a 164-year wait for major silverware.

And that dream became reality for Crystal Palace captain Joel Ward when the Eagles beat Manchester City to lift the FA Cup on Saturday.

"There was a quiet belief from my side but there was definitely belief from the team and club that we could do it," he told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club. "Some of my close friends had said that the writing was on the wall, but I didn't want to get too carried away.

"It was there for the taking and I am so proud of the group as they have created history for this club.

"I had a really calm experience [watching from the bench] and more so in the second-half. Towards the end I had a real sense of peace which is probably quite strange because at the beginning of the game I was full of adrenaline and my knees were going and I was shaking.

"But it seemed everything was going in the right way and on our side. There was a bigger hand in play for sure.

"Every single player put their body on the line. They blocked, they tackled, they worked effortlessly from start to finish.

"When you roll the game back, I think we fully deserved to walk away with that FA Cup."

Listen to the Monday Night Club on BBC Sounds

Alex Pewter
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

So, what's next? We've collectively taken a breath, and it is uncharted territory for Crystal Palace, headed into a season of European football for the first time.

Winning the FA Cup has sent the club down one of two wildly divergent paths – one where the hope of retaining players may have dramatically increased, who would almost certainly have been leaving without the carrot of the Europa League.

Topping the list of question marks on the pitch is captain Marc Guehi, with a year to run on his contract, and several would-be suitors. Despite playing for a mid-table team, Guehi already has England recognition, but the sense is that he is waiting for the right move, and Palace will be seeking a record fee for him to leave this summer, if the past two windows have taught us anything.

The stock price of Eberechi Eze is also at an all-time high. He has delivered on a grand stage and is entering his prime years. Again, Palace's valuation and his suspected release clause are at the high-water mark for players in his position. He turns 27 in June, with two years left on his deal.

Off the pitch, Oliver Glasner is the mastermind of the season. The club will seek to extend his contract beyond the following season. His system and its implementation have been a revelation for the club. We have a clear picture of what an 'Oliver Glasner' player looks like, and Palace will be recruiting on that basis.

Recruitment is therefore the key phase, and despite the emotional comedown from the weekend, Palace will need to be at work immediately. The team is set to play at least 49 matches next season, one more than this, even with two late cup runs. The squad will need greater depth than ever before, but hopefully, while retaining the key figures from Saturday.

Find more from Alex Pewter at FYP podcast, external

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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This is the time of the season when celebration, heartache and poignancy each hang around football grounds, like a warm misty haze. Just watch any of the play-off finals if you want to see the highest of highs and the lowest of lows from players and supporters alike.

I am still reeling at the enormity of Crystal Palace outwitting the mighty Manchester City in the FA Cup final. The size of the upset is impressive, but the spectacle from the Palace fans equalled it.

Fans of clubs who are used to winning things can still put on a show, but to keep that singing, bouncing and dancing going for the entire match was a thing of beauty as well as a fitness test. Going ahead after 16 minutes helped the energy levels, but the 'Spirit of Selhurst' in the sunshine drenching Wembley for the entire day was spectacular.

City were unlucky. The brilliant Dean Henderson was man of the match but shouldn't have been on the pitch after handling outside his area. On what planet does Erling Haaland not have a clear goal scoring opportunity?

Omar Marmoush had his penalty saved, but then I wouldn't have given a penalty in those circumstances anyway. Yes there was contact, but Silva initiated it by collapsing into the defender before the tackle, so I was delighted by Henderson's excellent save.

The true highlight in the widest sense was that in a season when the underdogs have barked loudly throughout, they showed there was a serious bite. Congratulations to the Eagles, you have kept the dreams of all other smaller clubs and their supporters alive.

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Crystal Palace captain Joel Ward says Oliver Glasner has "installed an air of confidence" around the team and has "taken this club to new heights".

Despite a rocky start to this season, securing only three points from their first eight games, Glasner never lost faith in himself or his players.

He believed there were genuine reasons for Palace's slow start after finishing the previous campaign with 19 points out of a possible 21.

"There are a lot of players in this group that want to win and achieve great things so they have that mentality," said Ward on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club. "But our manager had also installed an air of confidence around it and given us the belief to go on and make history for the club.

"What we did at the weekend was incredible, but it is not something we haven't done before this season in terms of principles and the way we play.

"We knew we had to tweak a few little things but the game plan worked perfectly.

"This will go down in history."

Ward continued: "It has been around 15 months since the manager came in and he has drilled it into us [about defending] and he demands a lot from us on a daily basis.

"We had to be very disciplined and very patient and thankfully it paid off.

"He has really set the tone for the club and us players. He has given us so much and he has taken this club to new heights. He has taken us to Europe for the first time after winning a major trophy for the first time.

"It comes down to his drive and passion and way of doing things."

Listen to Monday Night Club on BBC Sounds

The Crystal Palace fans won't really care what the result is here, because they won the game that really mattered at Wembley at the weekend, and they have a trophy to show for it.

So, there will definitely be a party in the stands at Selhurst Park after Palace's FA Cup success, but it is hard to know what to expect from the Eagles players after their own celebrations.

I am not really sure what shape Wolves will be in either, though. They were on a superb run of form until the start of May, but have lost their past two games.

It is Palace who will have all the momentum and Eberechi Eze is flying at the moment so I am going to back them here, but the outcome really depends on whether their manager Oliver Glasner makes a lot of changes.

Sutton's prediction: 1-0

Make your own prediction here, external

"I have had the biggest week of my life," said Crystal Palace captain Joel Ward on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

Because a bit like London buses - it has all happened at once for Ward.

Following the announcement of his departure this summer after 13 years at the club, his daughter was born on Thursday, he lifted the FA Cup on Saturday and he will play his final game at Selhurst Park on Tuesday.

"It's been an emotionally draining weekend," he smiled. "I have had the biggest week of my life.

"It is a week to remember, that is for sure!

"The final was an incredibly humbling and emotion-filled day. To lift that trophy after starting my career lifting the play-off trophy at Palace could probably not have been written better.

"A special, special day and a moment I will never forget.

"The atmosphere that will be at Selhurst Park [tonight] will be like no other. There will be a buzz around the place because everyone is still on cloud nine."

Watch Monday Night Club on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

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Crystal Palace are on 49 points in the Premier League, so by avoiding defeat by Wolves at Selhurst Park they will reach 50 in a top-flight season for the first time since 1991-92 (57).

A victory would take them to 52 points, which would be the most gained by a Premier League side after failing to win any of their first eight games of a campaign.

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Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner does not feel he has made a "legacy" at the club yet, despite their FA Cup final victory.

The Austrian guided the team to a 1-0 win over Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday - securing the club a first major trophy in their 120-year professional history.

Despite the achievement, Glasner has been playing down his status in the Palace history books.

"It's just two days ago we were winning it and, all of a sudden, a legacy? No, it's a great achievement. But it's still a little bit unreal. It's also enjoying that moment, but on the other side, having a game tomorrow, we're within these feelings," said Glasner.

"I don't know, I don't feel it's a legacy. I'm just part of an amazing group and we achieved everything together, so I don't think that it's a legacy.

"We're all defined by our character - everyone. The players as well, of course, every one of us has different talents. These people, they have a great talent, they can play football quite well.

"But, we are defined not by what we are doing, we are defined by our character. This is what they are - they are outstanding. I mention it so often and this is what they showed. The togetherness, always supporting the group, always having the team on the top.

"Everybody puts his ego into the group, into the team, and I think this is what this group is defined by - the great characters of every single player."

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Premier League game against Wolves at Selhurst Park (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Glasner confirmed Adam Wharton will miss both remaining games after suffering concussion in the FA Cup final, but Marc Guehi, who also went to hospital after the match, is a possibility for Sunday's game at Liverpool.

• The Eagles boss said it had been "great feelings, great emotions, great times" following Saturday's FA Cup triumph, but on the difficulty of turning attention back to Premier League games, he added: "I don't know to be honest. We cancelled Sunday's training. I'm not sure how they will present today. Of course, we have to find the right motivation, the right commitment - all together - how we want to start this week and how we want to end this week."

• On if players will still be hungry for these final matches: "We will try to find the right motivation. A few weeks ago everyone was talking about the semi-final and final. I said if they achieved a new points record then they will get two days off. They asked for it after the final but I said no - after one more point."

• He added: "This is the biggest achievement. A lot of tension drops. But they are human beings with emotions and sometimes it is not as easy to get the turnaround in a few days. That's why I was fighting for the Wolves game to be on Thursday not Tuesday, but sometimes you shout into the wind with these things."

• Glasner is expecting a "great atmosphere" at their final home game of the campaign: "Many fans are still celebrating and it's what they deserve. We will go for a good end of the season at home."

• On what he was feeling in the moment he took after the final whistle blew: "'Wow, we did it.' I couldn't believe it, that we won the FA Cup. It was a great atmosphere, a great traditional stadium, and credit to the FA how they celebrate this final. I had many, many family members there who enjoyed and they said it was great being part of it. This is what I felt - just being proud, of every player and staff involved."

• Having previously said he would retire the lucky black jumper he had been wearing if they beat Manchester City, he confirmed "It is already in the washing machine, but its job is done. You won't see it any more. It now goes back in the drawer... It won't be used for football any more, it is now my leisure time jumper."

Follow all of Monday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news and reaction

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FA Cup final victory a "fairytale ending" for outgoing Crystal Palace captain Joel Ward.

The Eagles came through 1-0 winners against Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday to secure their first major trophy.

"I'm not sure the magnitude of it all has actually set in yet, and I think that is for everyone at the club and associated with the club. Certainly a party atmosphere," Ward told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

"We had celebrations after the game, but obviously we have the final game of the season at home [on Tuesday night], which I can only imagine is going to be pretty eventful. The Palace fans will certainly take the roof off, which will be a special night.

"We knew coming up against City that they were going to have the lion's share of possession, but our gameplan was executed to near perfection.

"For me, on the sidelines and leading up to the game, there was just a sense of belief. Throughout the game, you go through spells where you get a little bit jittery or nervous, and the adrenaline is kicking in, but there was a real sense of peace. These lads knew what it was going to take to get across the line and they put in an enormous shift during the week and on the day."

The final came just days after it was confirmed the 35-year-old would be leaving Crystal Palace after 13 years with the club.

Asked what it meant to win the FA Cup in his final season with the Eagle, Ward said: "To do something like that is pretty incredible. I don't think there are real words for what it means, but to create history for this club, this set of players will go down in the history books for lifetimes.

"It is very special winning it and winning your first major trophy - that squad, that team, those players will never ever be forgotten. Like the manger said, we have given hundreds of thousand of people pure joy, which is the most important thing.

"It was a fairytale ending to what has been an incredible chapter at Palace [for me]."

Listen back on BBC Sounds

Alex Pewter
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Hidden in YouTube's archives is a Darren Ambrose goal of the year video from the 2011-12 season. Set to The Cinematic Orchestra's 'To Build a Home', it shows Ambrose scoring from range at Old Trafford in the League Cup quarter final. The camera cuts to a father and his two boys celebrating in disbelief.

I'm not sure how many times I've looked back on that video, but I did once more on the morning of the FA Cup Final – a failed attempt to distract myself and temper the nerves before heading to Wembley Stadium.

That image of the dad and his sons made me emotional 13 years ago, long before we all knew their story that followed.

For that moment to be unveiled as the tifo display at an FA Cup final encapsulated what this match and event meant to the club, the fans in the stadium and those watching elsewhere.

We all have different versions of a similar Palace experience. I have many people and connections in my life whom I'd have never met had my own father not grown up a few roads away from a particular football stadium in south London.

This wasn't a game that a club like Crystal Palace are meant to win. For many, it was a 'just once before I die' achievement, and in the aftermath, we are collectively unsure about what comes next now that we have reached our mountain top.

The semi-final was a party atmosphere, a spectacle of footballing brilliance. The final was the antithesis, a nervy defensive affair that needed a counterattack to spark the fans to life - we didn't expect the first foray to result in the winning goal.

It wasn't until 90 seconds before the end of stoppage time that I realised it was over. The Kevin de Bruyne overhit pass that Dean Henderson ushered out for a goal kick. It seemed the other shoe wouldn't drop like it did in 1990 and 2016.

A wave of emotion followed: euphoria, shock, tears of joy, and a sense of loss for the friends and family who didn't make it to see this finally happen with us.

Crystal Palace are now the 45th team to lift the FA Cup, and that can never be taken away.

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Former Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison says he struggled to "stay professional" at Wembley as Palace held their nerve to lift the FA Cup.

Morrison, who was commentating on BBC Radio 5 Live for the game, told the Football Daily podcast "it is bonkers" that the South London club are going to be playing European football.

"Everyone thought Manchester City were favourites but Palace always had a glimmer of hope because of the attacking players they have as well as a great manager in Oliver Glasner," said Morrison.

"The message is to take the cup seriously because that is what Glasner has done since the very first round. He has put out a strong team in every game.

"I was in the commentary box, and you know how you have to stay professional? I couldn't! Crystal Palace are going to be playing Europa League football.

"It is bonkers! I never thought I would see that in my lifetime."

Listen to the full discussion on BBC Sounds

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Former Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker says Crystal Palace's FA Cup victory is "a great win for football" and it should keep the magic of the competition alive in the coming years.

"That was what we call a proper cup final because it had everything," Reo-Coker said on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "It was a great win for Crystal Palace but also a great win for football because this is what the sport is about.

"Most people probably still favoured Manchester City to get the job done but what Palace did with the players they have is a win for football.

"It is about keeping the dream alive. All of these so-called 'small clubs' should dream and attempt to make it happen. Full credit to Palace."

Listen to the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds

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We asked you to tell us how you're feeling after that victory - and hear your suggestions on how the club can progress from this point.

Here are some of your comments:

Josh: I'm still crying. I've just re-watched yesterday's Match of The Day, and I'm off again. The end-credits montage sent me. I've woken up in tears. I love football. I love my Palace.

Pedro: It's still sinking in. This wonderful achievement should prompt the board to stop squabbling, unite, back Glasner and move the club forward. With our brilliant fans behind you, this is our sliding doors moment. Let's not waste it. A brighter future awaits!

Tom: The best hangover I'm having. What a team!

Peter: I've had to watch Match of The Day last night and this morning to confirm I wasn't dreaming. If we can back Glasner and keep most of the players, the future is a lot brighter. The board needs to unite for us to step forward. Do the right thing. Together, we can achieve much more.

Karim: It still hasn't quite sunk in yet. FA Cup champions. All the talk about a Community Shield and a European tour is obviously great, but once the buzz is over I fear the euphoria of winning the trophy will be replaced by worrying about keeping our best players and, more importantly, our manager. Big summer coming up for us.

Luca: Simply the best day of my life - broke down in tears at full-time. My dad who's supported them for over 35 years saw us relegated multiple times, put in administration twice and lose two FA Cup finals hugged my mum. Sheer joy, ecstasy, relief, wonder, disbelief. You could see for everyone at Wembley and at home. It simply meant everything. Thank you to Oli Glasner and every single player. You've done and achieved what we thought impossible.