Palace's final home game of the season brought Stoke City to SE25 and the Eagles were able to give their fans something to cheer ahead of the cup final as they
came from behind to win 2-1 with Dwight Gayle scoring both goals, and afterwards Alan Pardew
looked back on his striker's season and assessed: "Gayle is a player that, through injuries and our success in the first half of the season, just hasn't had enough game time this season. We had a problem in the last window with him. He was 'shall I go, shall I stay?' but we wanted him to stay. We got there in the end and he's been waiting for a chance."
Fantastic reception for the #CPFC players in front of the Holmesdale. #WeFollowpic.twitter.com/XHsYhAFWdW
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) May 7, 2016
NEWS: @wilfriedzaha is named the #CPFC Player of the Year - https://t.co/sIUtsqgdYY#CPFCAwardspic.twitter.com/NrLPzCiOas
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) May 12, 2016
Steve Coppell also picked up a
Special Achievement Award for guiding Palace to their highest ever league placing of third 25 years ago, and next season's
home and
away kits were also unveiled.
HERE IS THE #CPFC HOME KIT FOR THE 2016-17 SEASON! pic.twitter.com/hXpfvNCfz7
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) May 12, 2016
After plenty of
build-up, the Eagles returned to the national stadium to take on Manchester United and took the lead with just 12 minutes to play through Jason Puncheon.
JASON PUNCHEON! OH MY WORD! Takes a touch and thumps it. COME ON YOU PALAAAAACEEEE!!!
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) May 21, 2016
However they were pegged back minutes later by Juan Mata's goal, and then Jesse Lingard struck in extra-time to
deny Palace their first ever piece of silverware. Post-match, Pardew said: “The players have given me everything today. They played with heart and passion. It was a great cup final, Manchester United did the same. It was even and made for an enthralling tie, a game that could have gone either way. Unfortunately for us it didn’t go our way.”
Thank you all. ❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/cjxow5FuWj
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) May 21, 2016
<<< April