Alan Pardew had shown his Crystal Palace team a video of his own FA Cup semi-final victor from 1990 as part of his motivational tactics for this match and his players duly responded with a victory that will also be replayed for decades to come.
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Former Palace and England striker Wright wrote himself into club folklore when he struck twice against Manchester United in the club’s only previous FA Cup final appearance in 1990.
Mile Jedinak, Yannick Bolasie, Damien Delaney and Joel Ward were also involved in the Eagles’ triumph and remain prominent squad members, while Troy Deeney and Almen Abdi were both starters for Watford.
Watford wasn’t level for long as Wickham put Palace ahead in the 61st after he easily out-jumped Watford defender Nathan Ake to meet Papa Souare’s sweeping cross.
“In one second, Anthony Martial scores a goal and you win it in the last minute”. Winning that trophy reportedly helped keep Ferguson at United then.
ALAN PARDEW, Crystal Palace manager, on how Flores has done a good job at Watford. Everyone will be expecting Manchester United to win, but we know we are more than capable of beating them.
Though Palace lies only two spots above the relegation zone, it’s eight points clear of the drop zone with games running out.
Dutchman Van Gaal has faced endless debate about his United future, with media speculation that Jose Mourinho is waiting in the wings, after crashing out of Europe and poor performances in the Premier League.
“We paid a bit of homage to that side with the flick-on for the corner”, smiled Pardew.
“The characteristics of the team are similar to 1990”.
“It’s going to be a big day for him of course because it didn’t work out for him there”, said Pardew. If the club want to talk to me I am open but we will see but it not necessary to talk about me.
Wickham was relieved to make amends for his role in Deeney’s goal and said: “I think I owed it to the boys”.
United, who beat Everton in the other semi-final on Saturday, comfortably dispatched Palace 2-0 last Wednesday at Old Trafford in their league fixture. “But this guy has unbelievable ability”.
Flores said: “When we started the season (our) main target was to stay in the Premier League”.
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Watford have reached the FA Cup semi-final for the first time since 2007. “We don’t have reasons to talk about me”.
