Where Eagles dare
How much longer can this incredible run go on? Surely Palace will lose this month, they face premiership giants Arsenal in the Carling Cup Quarter Finals, and fellow EFB Managers Rob Perry’s Cardiff at Ninian Park and Steff Browning’s Blades at Bramall Lane in the Championship, some tough games :eek:
4th December 2005[/b]
A trip to Vicarage Road and Jon Macken was on fire for this one! He has been in impressive form lately, but he was sizzling for this fixture. Despite Watford taking the lead in the 4th Minute when Bouzza headed home, the team recovered well and Macken put palace on level terms less than 10 minutes later. He struck again before 20 minutes of the game had passed to give the visitors the lead, and Jobi McAnuff stretched the lead with a well taken goal just past the half hour. The second half was the same story with Palace continuing to dominate, and Jon Macken rounded off a Man of the Match performance with his hatrick just after the hour mark. A rare blunder from Leigertwood led to a brief glimmer of hope for Watford as he put the ball into his own net, but another own goal , this time from Malkay Mackay into the Watford goal, put paid to that. The crowd were going mad and singing out the managers name and a huige cheer went up as he acknowledged the travelling fans :cool:
Watford 2 Palace 5
Palace Scorers : Macken (13, 19, 64) McAnuff (32) Mackay (OG 77)
Watford Scorers : Bouzza (4) Leigertwood (OG 67)
Att : 14843
MOM : Jon Macken (Crystal Palace) 
10th December 2005[/b]
At home to the jug eared ones beloved club, and it was pretty much the same story as it has been for the majority of the season, Palace outfoxed the foxes. Gottwald scored first, then Macken made it 2-0 just before half an hour had passed. Macken is in the form of his life at the moment and he was everywhere screaming for the ball, driving the other players on, and it was no surprise when he received the man of the match award for the second successive game! Soares buried the game with a goal of the highest quality just after the hour. The only surprise (Surprise!
) was when Sylla grabbed a late consolation goal for the visitors
Palace 3 Leicester 1
Palace Scorers : Gottwald (7) Macken (28) Soares (61)
Leicester Scorers : Sylla (88)
Att : 26479
MOM : Jon Macken (Crystal Palace) 
13th December 2005[/b]
Steff Browning and his Blades played host for this encounter (and yes I did check it was Steff this time, although he mysteriously disappeared from the dugout early in the game). Kabba scored the opening goal and sent the home fans into raptures as he rushed towards them to celebrate! Palace struggled and could not get the equaliser in the first half. The second half saw Jon Macken ignite the game with a superb goal to level the score. Try as he might though he could not get the winner, and Palace had to be content with a share of the points which was perhaps a tad generous to the home side
Sheff Utd 1 Palace 1
Palace Scorers : Macken (62)
Sheff Utd Scorers : Kabba (6)
Att : 21481
MOM : Jon Macken (Crystal Palace) 
26th November 2005[/b]
With the teams confidence taking a bit of a knock after dropping points at lowly Sheffield United, they had to travel to Ninian Park and face a resurgent Cardiff managed by fellow EFB’er
Rob Perry. mackens superb run continued with less than a minute on the clock Macken put the visitors ahead and stunned the home fans! Tom Soares doubled the lead when he scored in the 36th minute and Cardiff were looking overwhelmed! Ebiede pulled one back for the bluebirds just after the restart, but a moment of Macken Magic put the result beyond doubt 2 minutes later and sealed Mackens 4th Successive Man of the Match Magnum! It has been rumoured that the manager, Paul Rouch, is confiscating the champagne from the lads and drinking it on their behalf so that they can concentrate on winning the Championship! This has yet to be substantiated though
Cardiff 1 Palace 3
Palace Scorers : Macken (1, 48) Soares (36)
Cardiff Scorers : Ebiede (46)
Att : 18176
MOM : Jon Macken (Crystal Palace)
20th December 2005 – Carling Cup Quarter Final[/b]
The big day is here and the players, staff and fans are all up for this game, their biggest of their season, at Highbury against the premiership giants Arsenal! A place in the two legged semi finals of the Carling cup beckons for the winner of this tie, and Palace fans are dreaming of Promotion and a final! The first half saw Palace pinned back in their own half in a very defensive mode as Arsenal’s free flowing attacking style took a hold of the game. Richie Foran had to go off injured after 7 minutes which must have upset the game plan for the team! The second half however was a different kettle of fish, as the team seemed transformed after what must have been one hell of a half time chat from their manager!! Man of the moment Jon Macken struck first sending shockwaves through Highbury! He rant to the palace supporters and screamed in ecstasy! The Highbury library become a cacophony of noise as the travelling fans started to party! But little did they realise that the whole night was going to get better and better! Jobi McAnuff put Palace into wonderland as he put them two ahead and then in the space of two minutes, with the smile of the last goal still on the visiting fans faces Jon Macken rounded off a superb evening and his own fine performance with a second goal for him and the clubs third goal of the night :eek: Even the most foolhardy gamblers would not have taken a punt on this score (even you Sandy!) The Rsenal players looked devastated and could not believe what was happening to them, the Eagles fans were taunting the Gunners with the chant of “Premier league? Yer ‘aving a laugh!” Kerrea Gilbert then sealed a night of misery for the gooners when he got himself sent off with only 3 minutes left. When the whistle went Paul Rouch quickly shook hands with Arsene Wenger then sprinted on to the pitch to congratulate his team and celebrate with the fans who were by now chanting “Paul Rouch’s Barmy Army”
Although 3-0 was flattering scoreline no one was going to take anything away from the team, except Fitz Hall, who had his Man of the Match Magnum of champagne taken away by the manager!
Arsenal 0 Palace 3
Palace Scorers : Macken (67, 77) McAnuff (75)
Att : 38379
MOM : Fitz Hall (Crystal Palace) 
26th December 2005[/b]
After the Lord Mayors Show! The 3-0 drubbing of Arsenal had taken a lot out of the team, and some looked like they had celebrated the win a bit too much! This was a dull uneventful game which wont live long in the memory of anyone who saw it, but after the momentous game against Arsenal, yo could forgive them for not being at the races for this one! A goal less bore draw.
Palace 0 Hull 0
Att : 17569
MOM : Tom Soares (Crystal Palace)
28th December 2005[/b]
A trip to St Marys and
Andy Hepburn’s Southampton, but with the in form Jon Macken injured and a number of other key players on the sick list, some pundits were pointing at this fixture as the one where Palace’s remarkable run could be halted! The early signs were good for the Eagles however, especially when Marcus Berg put the visitors ahead mid way through the first half. Palace continued to dominate but were unable to put the Saints to the sword and paid the price when late on in the second half Kenwyne Jones equalised for the home side and earned a very undeserved point for the scummers.
Southampton 1 Palace 1
Palace Scorers : Berg (27)
Southampton Scorers : Jones (81)
Att : 24259
MOM : Tony Popovic (Crystal Palace) Awards
It was no surprise when Jon Macken received the Player of the month award after his recent run of Man of the match performances! It was also especially rewarding to see Tom Soares picking up the young player of the month award again, his performances have been consistently good and a pleasure top watch
Position
Top :cool: 12 points clear of 2nd place Wolves
Top Scorer
Jon Macken – 20
Top rated player
Jon Macken – 7.85
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