27/05/2013 The Football League Show

lucrative day in world football. This Play-Off final should be a

cracker between two of the highest scorers as Ian Holloway's Crystal

Palace take on Gianfranco Zola's Watford. What an achievement this

represents for the Palace manager. This will be the third time in four

seasons Ian Holloway has guided a side to the Championship Play-Off

finals. Leading Blackpool to the Premier League in 2010, he missed

out last season as the Tangerines narrowly lost out to West Ham. This

year, he would need to overcome Palace's bitter rivals Brighton in

the semis to reach the final. And it was a player leaving for Manchester

United who made all the difference. Wilfred Zaha's goals at the Amex a

parting gift to the club which nurtured his precocious talent.

Absolutely amazing, probably the best talent I have seen at Crystal

Palace. Something to remember. are going to do it.

And Watford's story is hardly any less dramatic. Missing out on

automatic promotion on the last day of the season after being reduced to

ten men against Leeds, Troy Deeney redeemed himself in the Play-Off

semi-finals scoring a sensational winning goal against Leicester deep

into time added on. So what a match at stake. The Championship's most

entertaining sides. Let's join match club football, promotion to the

Premier and visits to the likes of Manchester United. Defeat, and

another championship season begins, and various IPOs. For Crystal

Palace, record fifth Play-Off final, winning three. On Watford,,

missing after injury. Wilfried Zaha plays his first match for the club

before moving to Manchester United. Two changes for Watford after their

semi-mine will victory. -- semifinal victory. Some deals should be made

permanent sown. Lloyd Doyley is in the side that won the 2006 final in

Cardiff, having beaten Palace in the semi-final. Ian Holloway, the Eagles

manager, has been critical of Watford was by cruel use of loan

transfers. Gianfranco Zola in his for the players. The referee is

Martin Atkinson. Watford in the yellow and black, taking us off and

under way, from right to left, their third ever seen your appearance at

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

two managers have more Play-Off at Watford. A good shot, but it was

locked. Poor defending by Cassetti. Doyley with the block from Garvan.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

That is certainly going to be a man, what Watford want to see. If

Watford can free Anya, they could know why there was not more support.

There in mind, Jedinak has been booked moments ago. What does he

lead with? He leads with the arm, certainly catching Chalobah, and

many people thinking he is fortunate Vydra. Second time in a matter of

moments he has put in a very important challenge. Changed his

side there, Damien Delaney. -- saved. Watford must have thought

goal really. Lifelong Crystal Palace supporters there, Eddie Izzard and

Jo Brand. It has been very tight tactically in terms of chances

created, but not any really good chances created. It has been

fascinating to see the way that the two different formations have been

used. With the three centre backs, one up front, two white men

supporting. -- wide men. I can imagine Ian Holloway will say to his

players at half-time the need to press up on Marco Cassetti. Remember

the Champions' League semi-final against Manchester four years ago. I

think Palace will do more in the second half, pricing right --

signings. They had 11 in the team that drew with Palace 2-2 at

vicarage Road earlier in this season. That loophole has now been

closed after criticisms. A chance for Zaha to show his glass. As he

looked up for support, he was dispossessed. It was not a free

kick, but are disappointed like tells the story. The half-time

whistle comes in the npower Football League championship Play-Off final

A good take, a lovely touch they by Almen Abdi. Abdi continued his shot,

got the touch in. Kevin Phillips there, third rollback, sipping from

a drink, on the substitutes bench. Played a major role. -- third row

back. Only Blackpool in the last ten years have conceded a goal and went

on to win. And the first shot on target in the game, having been

played 56 minutes. No power whatsoever there. Gianfranco Zola

reportedly on a huge bonus if you can get Watford into the Premier

League. One negotiated with the owners, because, to be frank, no one

thought they would be in this but just overrun at, -- overrun it.

Looking for support there, lacked confidence, but is blocked and away,

and Palace will have a free kick after the challenge on O'Keefe. The

ball is slammed rather recklessly. Abdi on the ground. Hogg Julius with

Chalobah. -- Hogg furious with O'Keefe. He is making a meal of

this, because he was down, having making the challenge that was

applicable challenge. That might have been inadvertent, but it is

applicable fence -- a bookable offence. That was rash and stupid.

It will be a yellow card for through to rhyme, but a splendid

piece of goalkeeping. -- she has made it through to O'Keefe. He

rescues Watford. Moving into the space, their best moment of the game

replaced by Kevin Phillips. Williams was a year old when Kevin signed his

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Once again Almunia saves Watford. Again the emergence of Kevin

Phillips has worried Watford. He came off the bench at Vicarage Road

this season. Watford were leading by 2-0. Within moments of his coming

2-0. Within moments of his coming How will he readjust to cope with

It's a throw only, but it could have been so much more but for the

been so much more but for the last two or three minutes.

Three times Almunia has been called Three times Almunia has been called

Almunia stretched out a vital leg. Crystal Palace have missed their

second-half chances. Will they come back to regret them and rue them?

Will the game spin on that? He Will the game spin on that? He

Will the game spin on that? He Watford, in these late stages, have

Watford, in these late stages, have It's their first effort on the

Palace goal in a long, long while. Palace goal in a long, long while.

Another chance has come and gone for Crystal Palace. On his big finale,

his farewell day in a Crystal Palace shirt, he's wanted to do it so much.

The club gave him the big chance as Almunia has kept Watford in the

We go to extra time. Manuel Almunia has made, in the second half, five

important saves for Watford to keep them in it. Crystal Palace by far

the more creative side, but denied and they have to do it in the extra

It's a splendid save. That's a really great save by Speroni because

he was moving to his right and somehow got back to his left and

clawed it away. Watford have missed their best chance of the game. Over

the years the Palace fans said he's a great goalkeeper and he rescued

a great goalkeeper and he rescued Palace at the start of extra time

The fourth official will show the stoppage time for the first period

stoppage time for the first period Oh, he's tumbled in the box. It's a

Oh, he's tumbled in the box. It's a Oh, he's tumbled in the box. It's a

penalty! Zaha produces, Cassetti is cautioned. And Palace have a

penalty. He drew him into the challenge. Cassetti appealed but he

made contact with the Palace player. Zaha touched it beyond him. That is

a dead set penalty. A stone wall penalty. Ian Holloway knew it

straight away. Kevin Phillips will straight away. Kevin Phillips will

straight away. Kevin Phillips will Watford in 1994, who's been beaten

in two play-off finals will take the in two play-off finals will take the

penalty and scores! Crystal Palace 1, Watford 0. This little gem of a

goal score scorer nets again. His 283 rd career goal, a born goal

scorer. There will be mixed emotions for the man who owes Watford so

much. But the finish from the spot was unerring. He's scored goals for

Ian Holloway at Blackpool. Holloway gambled by bringing him in In

January. He's brought him off the bench this season and seen him score

four goals from the bench. That four goals from the bench. That

They've got a free kick here as They've got a free kick here as

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

brave block by a Palace player to brave block by a Palace player to

thwart Watford again. He threw himself at it, Joel Ward. Did it hit

his arm? It hit him right in the chest. The penalty shout was in

chest. The penalty shout was in vain.

vain. vain.

Did that last day defeat take too Did that last day defeat take too

positional sense takes Crystal Palace to the Premier League. Or

does it? There's a minute left. Forestieri's execution was superb,

spinning it with the outside of his spinning it with the outside of his

spinning it with the outside of his Ian Holloway fumes because that

clearance gives Watford another chance to put it high. The header on

and it's deflected! Goodness me! . I think it went off Danny Gabbidon.

He had no idea where it was going. He had no idea where it was going.

He had no idea where it was going. Crystal Palace are in the Premier

Crystal Palace are in the Premier League! Zaha, in his last game, won

the penalty kick, but the big story, the romantic story is that Kevin

Phillips, at the third time of asking, has won a play-off final.

The old man of the game, at 39 years of age has scored the penalty that

takes Ian Holloway back to the Premier League. There is one more

goal in me, said Kevin Phillips. And it comes in the �120 million

play-off, the �120 million penalty given away by Cassetti, scored by

Philips and Crystal Palace have beaten Watford by 1-0. The club that

gave Philips his chance, his break in league football, beaten by one of

the great goal scorers in modern history. Palace go up. Watford cry

in despair. Crystal Palace 1, in despair. Crystal Palace 1,

Watford 0. Such a mix of players in your squad,

how can this happen against some of the better moneyied, more fancied

teams? One thing we do have, not saying that we don't, but we have a

lot of team spirit. These boys have showed that all year, character, I

say it a lot. That's what makes this team so strong. We did it for each

other today. It's incredible. got this club in your heart now.

You've been here since 2004. What about this? Look at them, what it

means for everybody here. What about that save? It means a lot to me. It

means a lot to me. I love this club. We deserve to be here. We had a

great season. So pleased for everybody. So, so pleased. This, one

of the most romantic tales of recent years. He was in the Sunderland side

beaten on penalties in '98. He went on injured that day. He was in the

West Brom side in 2007 that lost to Derby. He's watched from the bench.

Derby. He's watched from the bench. He's waited. His moment came.

Watford's layer is, who have stayed to watch, can only watch in utter

dejection. �120 million, it is worth, they say. But for these

players, it means more than money. He has steered them back into the

big time. Great relief for Ian Holloway. Jedinak, the captain,

holds out his hand, grabs the trophy and lofts it high, with the red and

blue-ribbon spluttering on a sunny day at Wembley. Pictures that mean

for Crystal Palace fans and their players, and the admirable owners

and valiant manager, Premier League football is returning. A wonderful

day for Crystal Palace, back in the big time, winning the 20 13th npower

Football League Championship Play-Off final by one goal to zero.

It is a nice feeling, having experienced three losses at

Play-Offs. To do this at this stage of my career, rather it is the last

kick of my career, remains to be seen, but enjoying this occasion.

The lads were great, needed it -- giving it when we needed, deserving

to win the game. Take me into the moment, the penalties awarded, no

hesitation? I wanted to take it, knew where I wanted to put it, head

down, smash it, and twos see it hit the back of the net. It is crazy. I

just glad I managed to beat them. It was my goal to get Palace up before

going to Manchester United. I think you can claim as much credit as

Kevin Phillips, that block on the line. I do not know what to say. We

always thought, and I was in the right place at the right time. They

helped clear it away. Look at what you have done, what the lads have

done. I am very fortunate. I like working with good people. They

deserve all sorts of credit. We were rubbish a few weeks ago. Now they

have shown skill and determination and I am so chuffed for them.

know what is our heads for these lads in the Premier League, a

magnificent one to play in, let's these players, 120 million. Listen

to them. They deserve it. We shall enjoy it tonight. A testament to

this site. To everyone involved this season. We should enjoy it,

celebrated, then try to get to the next league up. You have to enjoy

part of your life like this which are really special, and we have done

that, and we had a couple of opportunities to go second, but not

as good as Cardiff. But an awful lot of teams were not as good as Cardiff

this year, and well done to them. We have one hell of a task on now. We

have a piece of it. What that means to the four gentleman who owners

club, I do not know, but ask them. Some enormous highs, but clearly

this was not one of them. You have to take the lows as well. You use

them to make sure that, when you bounce back, you bounce higher. I

have no regrets, I think we have done everything we needed to do, but

it did not work, but will this year. Commiserations to Watford and well

done to Crystal Palace. The 82,000 that were here, creating atavistic

atmosphere, have long gone barring us and the staff. On the balance of

play, Palace were worthy winners. Yeah from Delaney was outstanding at

the back, and everything seemed to work. Watford try to match Crystal

Palace, but Palace winning the tactical battle. But some problems.

Yes, Almunia had to make some major saves. He had a really good game

today, and no complaints about his performance. So much at stake in the

Championship Play-Off final, and it can turn on a chance mistake. Just

that the first period of extra time, was there a case of the age

gap between them, and Zaha being that it quicker? Zaha has done that

too many in his time. Totally unexpected and Cassetti fell for it.

But again, Zaha did most of the work in the right-hand area, but in extra

time, goes to the left when he saw Cassetti was moved out of that

place, swapped with Doyley. That was right and they got the penalty which

won them the game. His 16th penalty. Incredible statistics. The way Kevin

Phillips took that was incredible. It was incredible. Everything to

play for. Almunia is having a great name. The only way to go is the top

right-hand corner, difficult to do, but not for Kevin Phillips, great

mind under pressure. And very good for him, and also for Wilfried Zaha,

with a poor vegetable -- with a pivotal role, then he will move to

Old Trafford. He would be first to say his form dipped towards the end

of the season. The wonder was where the goals would come from. But Kevin

Phillips did it against Brighton, then today, and will go away as an

all-time Crystal Palace hero. Palace, let them enjoy this moment.

What about after the summer? I would say to them, look at Swansea,

Norwich, Southampton, West Ham, staying in that top division. It has

been hard work. The marriage failed narrowly with Blackpool, and he will

take that experience with Palace and will use it to his advantage.

to build on for Watford? Absolutely, and jailing them together. The rules

will change. They will keep the key players. And I think the manager

will move forward as well. A quick reminder, we have live coverage of

the fifth round of the Moto GP World Championship underway at 12:30 pm on

BBC Two. Thank you to Leroy for his company and to you over the last

couple of months. Quite a journey, culminating in Crystal Palace