7 Times Being A Crystal Palace Fan Was Too Stressful

4. Relegation Decider: Part One

Under then manager Iain Dowie, Crystal Palace found themselves in the Premier League, when the season before it looked more like they were going to get relegated. The club really didn't look like it had what it took to stay in the top division, but what they did have was an ace up their sleeve in the shape of Andy Johnson, who scored over 30 goals the previous season in the Championship and ended the 2004/2005 season with 21 to his name. Without his goals, Palace would have been relegated by March, but they weren't: they were still in the mix on the last day of the season. The problem for Palace was that three other teams were too - Southampton, Norwich and West Brom. All four teams were separated by two points and all four teams were going to play their last game of the season at the same time, in one of the most tense final days the Premier League has ever seen. Norwich were the team in the driving seat, sitting one point ahead of Palace and Southampton and a further point ahead of West Brom. Norwich weren't ahead for long, however, as they conceded an early goal against Fulham before capitulating under the pressure and losing 6-0. It was no longer in the Canaries' hands, so it was down to Southampton and Palace to try and determine their own destiny. With a few minutes to go, Southampton were losing 2-1 at home to Manchester United while Palace were beating local rivals Charlton 2-1 at The Valley and West Brom were beating Portsmouth 2-0. This meant that all Palace had to do was hold on: but alas it was not to be. In the 71st minute Jonathan Fortune equalised for the Addicks which meant that, after a topsy-turvy day, West Brom now held all the cards. A late flurry by Palace wasn't enough and, despite scoring a penalty in the game, Andy Johnson's goals weren't enough to keep Palace in the league. The club were left scratching the heads, still trying to work out how to stay in the top division for more than one year.