Back in the Day: February 21st - Crystal Palace beat Spurs and book place in last eight

Saturday 21st February 1959

Crystal Palace 4-0 Millwall

League Division Four – Att: 18,365

Manager: George Smith

The great Johnny Byrne, Tony Collins, Mike Deakin and Alfie Noakes (pen) scored the goals that saw off our local rivals.

Saturday 21st February 1987

Reading 1-0 Crystal Palace

League Division Two – Att: 7,429

Manager: Steve Coppell

Sunday 21st February 2016

Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Crystal Palace

FA Cup 5th Round - Att: 35,547

Manager: Alan Pardew

Not many gave Palace a chance as they headed to White Hart Lane in the 5th Round of the FA Cup. In the week leading up to the match, Alan Pardew took the players to Spain:

“I [Pardew] have decided to take the lads away to Spain next week ahead of the FA CUP tie against Tottenham. Part of my thinking behind this is to try and replicate the routine Steve Coppell put in place during our run to the Cup Final, with the players enjoying little breaks away before each round.”

The Palace fans were joined by the injured Jason Puncheon in the stands at White Hart Lane on a memorable afternoon. Martin Kelly scored the only goal of the game, and his first in 1,545 days, on the stroke of half-time to send Palace into the Quarter-Final.

The half-time entertainment as the match can be described as “ill-advised” at best. The hosts carted out Alan Mullery on to the pitch, and that resulted in non-stop abuse from the away end towards the former Brighton manager.  “The Palace fans are drowning out the Mullery interview,” said John Cross of the Mirror. “Most of us would drown him given half the chance” was my response. The day would end perfectly as Crystal Palace were handed an away tie against Reading in the next round. Wembley was now a distinct possibility.

All Results

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February 20th