I booked the train and booked the Euro Queens Hotel in London which l could cancel if l gave them 48hrs notice which was a handy option to have. My mate Paul Scott booked the train, hotel as well so things were good travel wise, we then got tickets for the game which were priced great for the fans.
Then bang Train strike was announced for the bank holiday Monday which would affect our travel plans, Plan B was put in place in case the strike went ahead. Meanwhile the Hospital had decided that my wife would have a caesarean operation on the 18th of May so all going well the London trip was looking on. Thankfully everything went well with our baby boy was born on the 18th of May and both Mum and baby Alexander were fine and healthy. They both got home on the Wednesday afternoon so it was good as had nearly a week to settle in at home.
Thankfully the rail strike was cancelled so l booked my train to Edinburgh and l set off on the 06:25am train from Cupar and Paul got on at Markinch and it arrived in plenty of time for the 08:00am train to Kings Cross, a few. Dundee fans including Steve Schoppler who I have known since around 1982. The journey went very quick and we arrived on time and made our way to London Bridge we used a Oyster card after this which proved very handy to get around London quickly.
We made our way to Crystal Palace train station as our Hotel was about 10 minutes walk, and thanks to Paul talking to google on his phone we got the directions quickly, we booked in and had a quick shower and then out to make our way to Norwood Junction, before that we had a quick pint in the The White Hart and it good to see a few Dundee fans going about. We arrived in good time and made our way to The William Stanley Pub which was very busy with Dundee fans and it was good to see a few well known faces. Everyone were in good spirits and it was a great atmosphere before we made our way up to the ground which was about a 10 minute walk away.
It was clear to see that the Dundee fans had travelled down in numbers as we walked up to the ground got a wristband and programme which was pretty big, but looked a great effort. Once inside the ground was rocking it was going to be a special night. Plenty old songs were being sung for the Legends who would play later in the game, Julian Speroni was given a Guard of honour onto the pitch with the home support putting on a brilliant display for their hero.
Dundee' starting line up was ; Gourlay, Irvine, McGinn, McPake, McAlister, Stewart, Tankulic, Gadzhalov, Adam, Carreiro, Wighton. Subs; Konrad, Nemsadze, John Black, Andy Black , Kerr, Colquhoun, Caballero, Sara, Carranza, Ketsbaia.
Charlie Adam, appearing courtesy of Stoke City, gave Speroni his first test with a low 20 yarder that the man of the night took comfortably. Dundee then had a good spell passing the ball around smartly in the Palace half. Greg Stewart ended a patient move with a 20 yard shot that was deflected just wide. More good play from Stewart set up Adam to crash a volley over the bar.
Gourlay saved well when Chung-yong Lee tried to chip him, but the youngster was out of luck when Zaha took a pot shot from distance. Gourlay couldn't hold the ball and LEE rolled the ball into the net. The pace and skill of Zaha and Bolasie were a cut above anything the Dark Blues have to face in Scotland, and the Palace wingers were giving an impressive exhibition of wing play. It was no surprise when the pressure led to a third goal. Dwight GAYLE worked a clever, fast move with Zaha, cut inside and smashed the ball past Gourlay.
Dundee responded with a fine goal of their own. Charlie Adam stepped up a gear to race through the midfield and slip a pass through for Dylan Carreiro to shoot past Speroni.
The goal gave the Dee a boost and Julian Speroni made the save of the match to stop Adam pulling another goal back. Adam fired in a rocket from the edge of the box that Speroni parried superbly. He then recovered quickly to keep out Tankulic's follow up header.
Palace's razor sharp raiders promptly punished the Dark Blues with a swift counter attack for goal number four when Lee raced into the penalty area to set up GAYLE for a tap in.
In the last action of a highly competitive first half Gourlay did well to hold a ferocious shot from Bolasie. Crystal Palace replaced their whole team at half time, sending on a team of old favourites for cameo appearances with fresh old faces coming on every few minutes. The Dark Blues made fewer changes and had the better of the second half.
The big travelling Dees were delighted to see their own old favourites appearing; Juan Sara, Fabian Caballero, Beto Carranza, Temuri Ketsbaia and Georgi Nemsadze all came on to great acclaim.
Juan Sara seemed to have pulled a goal back when he was sent clear and lobbed Speroni. To the delight of the crowd Julian managed to get back and make a fantastic save, tipping the ball onto the crossbar and away to safety.
The substitution that brought the second loudest cheer from the home fans was the arrival of the hugely popular Palace manager Alan Pardew. The loudest applause was of course reserved for Julian Speroni's substitution after 70 minutes. The travelling Dees responded by singing non-stop for Julian Speroni to come back on for Dundee. They were delighted when they got their wish after just a few minutes. The Palace fans also rose to applaud their hero when he returned to the pitch for the visitors.
Charlie Adam came back on for the last quarter of an hour and injected some serious intent into Dundee's attacks. After 85 minutes Charlie Adam took a pass from Ketsbaia and scored with a crisp low shot from 18 yards.
Only a minute later Cammy Kerr went rampaging down the left, cut inside and flashed home a great finish for the last goal of the night. The final score of 4-3 did not matter on the night it was a special night for Julian Speroni who is a fantastic goalkeeper and I'm glad I never missed this occasion.
The Referee was Dermot Gallagher and the final attendance was 11,509
Teams for the game and subs used were as follows Palace: Speroni, Ward, Hangeland, Delaney, Ramage, Zaha, McArthur, Bannan, Bolasie,Lee, Gayle. Second half players: Matt Lawrence, Danny Butterfield, Chris Morgan, Neil Ashton, Alan Pardew, Clinton Morrison, John Salako, Aki Riihilahti, Christian Pedercini, Ezequil Speroni, Mariano Borsalino, Lewis Price, Hiram Boateng, Sullay Kaikai, Jake Gray, Cristian Barrionuevo, John Fendley.
Dundee: Gourlay (Speroni 77), Paul McGinn (Andy Black HT), McPake, Gadzhalov (Konrad HT), Irvine (Kerr HT), Carreiro (Carranza 55, John Black 83), McAlister (John Black 61, Nemsadze 75), Adam (Colquhoun HT, Adam 75), Stewart (Ketsbaia 55), Tankulic (Sara 55), Wighton (Caballero 55)
Up early the next morning and had my breakfast before leaving for the journey back home, so back to Kings Cross where we had a walk about had some refreshments and met other Dundee fans including The Fife Dark Blues and some members of The Capital Dark Blues, our train left at 3pm and the journey back north was quick , in no time we were back in Edinburgh and we got the 21:08 train back to Cupar.
This was the best away trip since watching Dundee FC since likely Perugia in Italy in 2003.
And l have found out since l got home that my Son Alexander shares the same Birthday as Julian Speroni how wonderful is that.
