Crystal Palace and Notts County claim top-flight scalps in FA Cup - 7M sport

Crystal Palace and Notts County claim top-flight scalps in FA Cup



Posted Wednesday, February 03, 2010 by theguardian.com

Crystal Palace and Notts County claim top-flight scalps in FA Cup
Crystal Palace's Danny Butterfield celebrates scoring the second goal of his hat-trick.

Crystal Palace and Notts County struck blows for the impoverished against the Premier League last night by earning unlikely FA Cup fourth-round replay victories over top-flight opponents in Wolverhampton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic respectively.

While County, of League Two, won 2-0 at Wigan, Palace secured a notable victory of their own, 3-1 at home to Wolves. The London club, placed in administration last week with debts of £32m, relied upon their quickest ever hat-trick, scored in under six minutes by Danny Butterfield, a full-back playing up front, to secure a lucrative tie with Aston Villa on Valentine's Day.

Palace's players received their wages for January only yesterday but, having been docked 10 points in the league, took their frustrations out in style.

"It was a great night and I'm pleased for everyone connected to the club," said the manager, Neil Warnock, who spoke to the Palace chairman, Simon Jordan, before kick-off. "You can see what we've got here: a small number of lads and a great spirit. We've got a big day against Villa to look forward to now, and it's a great opportunity.

"Transfer deadline day was a long day for me. I think Fulham offered £30,000 for three of our academy players, and Chelsea came in for some too. That's disgusting. And everybody knows that [the full-back Nathaniel] Clyne almost went to Wolves yesterday, and I was disappointed with the offer we accepted for him. But he turned them down and the money we would have got for him we'll get from this Cup run now."

County continue to be threatened by a winding-up petition over unpaid monies to HMRC, but conjured a stunning win at Wigan with the watching Sven-Goran Eriksson overjoyed, or as close as the former England manager ever gets to overjoyed. "It was a wonderful night for the club, but all the credit must go to the manager," said the director of football.

"He's delighted, like everyone else," said Stephen Hunt, scorer of the opening goal. "He popped his head into the dressing room to say well done. We came here with no fear because we had nothing to lose, and after all the uncertainty that's been surrounding the club it's good to be part of a success story. As players we've been doubted, in one way or another, from the start of the season, but the team spirit here has always been excellent."

Dave Kevan, now with a Premier League scalp as well as six wins and two draws in eight games as caretaker manager, is keeping his feet on the ground. "If the investment gets sorted out I'm pretty sure there will be a new manager in here soon," he said. "All I do is train and concentrate on the football."



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