The Villa game gave every one associated with Palace, at all levels, tremendous pride. I know Neil was bursting with pride after the game, and while their leveller was a sickener, especially as it was clear that it was not a corner, it still gives our players the chance to perform at Villa Park.
I went up there to watch the Villa v Man Utd game prior to our game and what a stadium.
I still think the traditional stadiums revamped up to Premiership standards are the best in the country. All the modern ones are the same and they look to me like a space ship has landed. I'm not even sure about Wembley if I am honest.
For the life of me I cannot fathom out why designers cannot come up with a state of the art arena but based on a traditional feel. In Wembley's case it would have been great to have incorporated the twin towers, or at the very least replicating them.
I know what the twin towers are but the Wembley arch?!!!. Where did that come from?
Anyway, as for Villa's equaliser, it catagorically was not a corner. How a linesman does not spot that, I dont know.
Even the Villa lads didn't appeal for a corner so they must have been delighted with the decision, and of course the outcome.
We went fast asleep on that one, and whilst I have every sympathy with the players after such a great performance, it was also a harsh lesson on losing concentration at vital moments.
The best defenders in the world and in history such as Bobby Moore had great powers of concentration.
I know Jose Fonte got sick of me reminding him of this before EVERY game about that very point.
The day after Jose left, he sent me a great text thanking me, the gaffer and Curley for helping him to become a far better player than before we arrived at Selhurst. I treasure that comment.
Speaking of the goal itself again it is crying out for goaline technology or cameras spotting things refs and linesmen don't or can't see.
I believe it should be introduced but only used in games for incidents when the ref requests it.
And on this occasion it would have probably sent us through to the next round rather than having to go to Villa Park for yet another game.
Still the Villa game fills in the only midweek break we had before now and the end of the season!!!!! Boy are we relishing all these games.
Mental fatigue is going to be a relavent factor now. A small squad and injuries will make massive demands on the players and the Manager, plus his staff.
I think, since the Administrator came in the players and staff have upped the anti. The Manager in particular has been great at turning adversity in to a positive.
After the Villa game and the prospect of yet another money windfall, it must be the best result ever for the administrator.
I'm sure I glanced up and saw him knock that one in at the near post!!!. I've not met the lad but I am told he is doing a smashing job.
What with the Victor money and of course Jose's fee, then the FA cash, it all makes me wonder why we are in admin anyway.
Obviously it's far more complex than that. I'm sure everyone is keen to get this whole thing sorted and the sooner the better.
Interestingly enough Chris Short, our fitness guy, was telling me that Brad Friedel - a close pal of Chris' - told Shorty that their two centre halves Dunne and Collins were saying after the game that Alan Lee had given them their toughest game of the season so far.
I thought Neil Danns was great against Villa but bizarrely he only got five in the Sun's ratings. Serves me right for reading the Sun I suppose.
Nicky Carle covered every blade of grass and is determined to try to use this period to tie down a World Cup spot with Australia.
We all hope Nick gets into the squad. They have a great midfield so it will be tough for Nicky, but even if he gets in to the squad and doesn't even play it will be an experience of a lifetime.
Ambrose's goal was world class, and I do mean world class.
And then what a dream for Johnny Ertl. He is such a great guy and one of the best pros I have ever come across. A real character in the dressing room yet immaculate on the training pitch.
When Johnny first came here he was trying everything too hard to impress and ended up complicating everything he did. He was running around trying to do everybody's job.
One day I said to Johnny, "listen and remember this - Simplicity is beautiful!!" Just about every day he is reminded. What is simplicity? And he knows the instant reply.
Recovery is going to be more important than ever before. Our programme now looks daunting. Shorty is going to have to earn his cash now more than ever. Our Manager does have a keen eye for players moods and fitness levels so Neil will be watching everything keenly as well.
It gets right under my skin that we have now gone from a promotion position to a relegation one. We didn't come to put our roots down in SE25 for this. Every man at our training ground will have to be as one from now on in because it's going to take a massive push by everyone concerned.
But things were not helped by our result on Wednesday night. We were surprised by it because we had dominated the first 20 minutes and Darren could have had a couple to himself. But the goals we conceded were bad goals.
At half time Neil did a great job in getting them up for it and sent them out fighting. As they were going back out I remember thinking Reading were in for one hell of a second half, but again we let in the most crap goal.
That meant we were then right up against it, but we got our goal and I thought we could have gone on to win it until we let in another bad goal.
I have to say though that, and I don't care what anyone says, I think the FA Cup is a big distraction to footballers.
For me it is no coincidence that after we played so well to beat Wolves, we lost against Swansea in the next game; an then after the Aston Villa game we lost to Reading.
First of all our players aren't used to playing massive games where there is a great atmosphere, big crowds, TV, the limelight and I think everyone just got wrapped up in it all.
For their players they do it week in, week out and they know how to cope with it. Ours don't know how to cope with it and that had an effect.
Of course we now have the big game at Villa Park to look forward to, but after that we have a very important game away at Doncaster and I will be worried.
However, although there are those concerns this cup run has come at a perfect time for the club because of the financial aspects. For example we had to beat Wolves because it meant we could keep Clyney.
If he had gone it would have killed the dressing room, but by him not going there it meant the club would not be getting any money from his sale. So the money we got from beating Wolves justified him staying.
But my job and the Gaffer's job here is not about finance, it is about winning games.
Looking ahead I am worried that when we play Aston Villa, no matter what happens, we then have to get up to Doncaster and get in 24 hours to recover for the game.
I will be honest it worries me that this FA Cup run is going to interfere with our league position. We only have a small squad, we obvously can't sign anybody and with the games we have ahead of us we are going to be playing three times a week for the rest of the season.
So mental fatigue will definitely come into it, there is the threat of injuries, we have got players on eight yellow cards, and all these things will come into play as we go on.
Our situation is also uniqe because the phsyological effect of losing ten points, going from a promotion scrap to a relegation scrap and being in administration is massive.
The mood in the dressing room after the Reading game was not good, it was morbid in fact and the challenge has been to get the lads back into a positive frame of mind.
And we can do that because that is our jobs. Right across football the most positive peope are the managers and coaches because if you are not positive then it gives the players an excuse, and I am not a believer in giving players excuses because they will take them.
Even in my day if there was an excuse you would take it, and there is a fine line between reasons and excuses. I will accept reasons but I am not going to accept excuses and I think that is fair.
Now is not the time to dwell on mistakes, it is not the time to shirk the challenges that face us. When your back is against the wall it is the time to be at your strongest and that is what we are trying to be.
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The Mick Jones Blog 26
Mick reflects on the Scunthorpe and Swansea results as well as sharing his thoughts on Stern John's chances.
The Mick Jones Blog 25
Mick reflects on the transfer window, dressing room antics and the Wolves result.
The Mick Jones Blog 24
Mick discusses the news of administration, the Newcastle game and reveals one youth player he thinks will be the next to make the first team.
The Mick Jones Blog 23
Mick talks about Victor, youth development, Nick Carle and Shaun Derry.
The Mick Jones Blog 22
Mick reflects on the Jose transfer, the terrible weather conditions and the return of Kieran Djilali.
The Mick Jones Blog 21
In his first blog of 2010 Mick looks back at the Sheffield Wednesday game and discusses Freddie Sears, Simon Thomas and Calvin Andrew...
The Mick Jones Blog 20
Mick looks back at the Barnsley game, the state of refereeing in this country and clearing snow off the training ground.
The Mick Jones Blog 19
Mick answers the one question sent in, as well as reflecting on the weekend's defeat.
The Mick Jones Blog 18
Mick reflects on Doncaster, Reading as well as answering fans' questions.
The Mick Jones Blog 17
Mick discusses the Stern John loan, James Comley and the Surrey Senior Cup...
The Mick Jones Blog 16
Mick discusses the behind closed doors friendly, Jack Randall and Alex Wynter.
The Mick Jones Blog 15
Mick reveals what was going on at the training ground plus his thoughts on Matt Wright and Kieran Djilali.
The Mick Jones Blog 14
Mick reflects on the Boro victory and discusses what went on in training during the international break.
The Mick Jones Blog 13
Mick reflects on the Preston and QPR games as well as discussing Lee Hills and Danny Butterfield.
The Mick Jones Blog 12
Mick reacts to the Leicester & Forest games as well as discussing Calvin Andrew, Stern John and Lee Hills.
The Mick Jones Blog 11
Mick talks about John Salako, Mark Bright and answers the questions sent in.
The Mick Jones Blog 10
Mick talks about Blackpool, Nick Carle and Cardiff City.
The Mick Jones Blog 9
Mick looks back at the West Brom and Sheffield Wednesday games.
The Mick Jones Blog 8
Mick talks about the Derby win, Julian's yellow card, Johnny Ertl and West Brom.
The Mick Jones Blog 7
Mick shares his thoughts on the Scunthopre defeat.
The Mick Jones Blog 6
Mick talks about the international break, the transfer window and about James Comley...
The Mick Jones Blog 5
Mick reflects on the Man City and Peterborough games as well as answering your questions...
The Mick Jones Blog 4
Mick offers his opinions on Newcastle, Ryan Smith and Nick Carle.
The Mick Jones Blog 3
Palace's No.2 reacts to 'that goal' as well as looking forward to Ipswich and Newcastle.
The Mick Jones Blog 2
Palace's No.2 reacts to Saturday's 1-1 draw.
The Mick Jones Blog 1
Palace's No.2 talks pre-season, USA tour and the season ahead in his exclusive new blog...
