It’s not how I like to watch football, but last night I sat watching Crystal Palace vs Man Utd nervously hoping for an away win, knowing that the wrong result would see Roy Hodgson’s side leapfrog us in the table.
It was bad enough that Palace took a 1-0 lead into the break, but things got worse when former Mackem Patrick Van Anholt put them 2-0 up just three minutes into the second half.
At this point they were up to 13th and a point clear of us, putting us just a place above the relegation zone.Like Brighton’s win over Arsenal on Sunday, it was looking like another bad result for NUFC, but how that all changed.
Smalling pulled one back just minutes later, then Lukaku equalised with 15 minutes to go. At 2-2, David De Gea then pulled off an incredible save to keep it level, only for Nemanja Matic to then score an incredible long-range strike at the other end in the 91st minute.
It broke Palace hearts but was met with celebrations to say the least on Tyneside!
What a Goal from Nemanja Matic.. #CRYMUN pic.twitter.com/03k8phzI2Y
— Lucifer (@ChhotiGoldFlake) March 5, 2018
Unlucky Palace. However my cheese n biscuits just went all over the floor thanks to Mr Matic. Feels wrong celebrating a Man U goal but needs must. #NUFC
— KevLew (@Kevlew833) March 5, 2018
Just celebrated that Matic goal if a was Man Utd fan… makes is feel sick #PALMUN #MNF #NUFC
— craiigdawson (@craiigdee) March 5, 2018
Always liked Man U
— Michael Martin (@tfMichael1892) March 5, 2018
Nemanja Matic, I honestly deep down love you! #NUFC
— ⚫️SimplyNUFC⚪️ (@SimplyNUFC) March 5, 2018
Judging by my timeline, that's a goal celebrated as much on Tyneside as Manchester (the red half!) ?
— Mark Douglas (@MsiDouglas) March 5, 2018
Here it is one more time, just for the Man Utd fans..
Doesn't matter who you support; Crystal Palace, Newcastle United and obviously Manchester United ect, that goal for Matic was magic. #CRYMUN #NUFC pic.twitter.com/FocnW0pbzN
— KC (@JokerNUFC) March 5, 2018
In all honesty though, this was a big relief. I prefer not to rely on other teams dropping points, but this not only kept Palace down in the bottom three but will be a dagger blow to their confidence levels.
We know how it felt losing a 2-0 lead at Bournemouth and only getting a point, where as they’ve come away with nothing here.
A damaging result which can only be good news for us NUFC fans – providing we make us of it and beat Southampton on Saturday!
