Crystal Palace - 0
Tranmere Rovers - 0

Having made it through against Cardiff City, Burnley and last year's Cup holders Leicester City, Palace now found themselves pitted against last year's runners-up in the form of Tranmere Rovers. Of course this was Tranmere's second appearance at Selhurst Park in just 10 days, and we managed to "steal" the win on that occasion. Any Palace supporter will tell you that 10 days ago was a great comeback win, and so it was; but this would be sure to only have the effect of making Tranmere more determined to get something out of this rematch.

With Dougie Freedman Cup tied, and injury keeping Andrejs Rubins out of the game, Mikael Forssell made the starting line-up, and the Palace supporters were able to welcome back skipper Neil Ruddock. All we now had to do was sneak in a couple of goals, and we would be through to the quarterfinals.

Both sides came out and made a pretty good start, but any neutral critic would have told you that Tranmere looked by far the more dangerous. Only a few minutes had elapsed when Paul Rideout headed a cross from Sean Flynn that fortunately never made the back of the net, and then Clint Hill sent in one of those great shots from fully 35 yards out that somehow seem destined to break the deadlock. The ball sailed agonisingly just over the bar, and the Palace fans breathed a collective sigh of relief. Replies from Palace did not come until late in the half, when Mikael Forssell saw a good shot well saved by Thomas Myhre, and his next attempt blocked on the line by Reuben Hazell. Alex Kolinko brilliantly saved a final shot from Scott Taylor, and the sides trooped off the field with nothing to show for their efforts other than a clean sheet on both sides.

The second half saw Palace start to pile on the pressure, and their first shot at goal came from a fierce drive taken by Steve Thomson following a neat lay-off by Clinton Morrison. Somehow the keeper managed to tip the ball to safety, and shortly after he was on hand again to deny Mikael the honour of opening the scoring. The action did not stop there. Clinton finally beat the keeper only to see his shot blocked on the line by Graham Allen, and time was starting to run out. Tranmere's only real chance of the half came with about a quarter of an hour remaining, but Alex once again proved to be our saviour. A great flying leap saw him manage to deny a shot from Taylor, and before anyone was really aware normal time was over and it was back on for extra time. All Palaces' substitutes were available, and we would need them by the end.

The extra 30 minutes saw Palace use all three subs in an attempt to break the deadlock, but as brilliant as Alex was in the Palace goal Thomas Myhre was equally as good at the opposite end. Alex once again kept us in the match with yet another great save, this time from Jason Koumas, and he found himself twice more in the action, excelling himself with equally brilliant saves. Myhre, meanwhile, had a relatively easy time at the other end, as Palace seemed to be playing the game out for a chance at a penalty shoot-out. To the fans bemusement this was exactly what occurred, and most supporters would not have given you two bob for our chances.

The reality was that Palace had failed to score with their last 4 attempts from the penalty spot this season, and Tranmere had the services of on loan Thomas Myhre in goal, a Premiership seasoned player with Everton. As good as Alex was on the night most supporters would agree that his saving ability is a little suspect, having a penchant to fist the ball away rather than taking a clean save. Could that be what is required for a penalty shoot-out though?

Tranmere supporters would automatically stop reading at this point, for the heartbreak of losing a game by this method is always cruel on the loser, and it certainly does nothing for the nerves of the victor either, particularly those of the ever-suffering fans in the stands!

For those that are unacquainted with the rules of the penalty shoot-out my limited understanding is as follows: 1. All penalty shots are to be attempted by a different player. 2. Teams will take shots turn about, meaning one to us, one to them etc. 3. The initial number of penalties will be decided on the basis of the best of five shots. 4. If after five shots each the scores are level then the match will be decided on a sudden death basis.

It really is a cruel way to lose a game, but until someone comes up with a better way to decide a match I guess we are stuck with it, and to the victor go the spoils.

Palace, as the home team, went first. Dean Austin stepped up, and crashed the ball into the back of the net. Jason Koumas replied in like fashion for the visitors, and it was 1-1.

Wayne Carlisle repeated Dean's shot but Nick Henry's effort was pushed away by Alex, making the score 2-1.

Hayden Mullins was next in line, but his weakly hit shot was easily dealt with by Myhre. With Clint Hill being successful the scoreline was brought back to 2-2.

Tommy Black was next to try his luck, and though successful his shot was negated by Gareth Roberts, 3-3.

Skipper Neil Ruddock was equally successful, but once again Sean Flynn found the back of the net. It was now 4-4 following 5 shots each, and the sudden death rule came into play. There was no more room for error.

Andrew Martin easily converted his shot, but Paul Rideout cancelled his effort, 5-5.

Mikael Forssell sent his shot to the left, but the keeper, guessing right for once, pulled off a brilliant save. All Graham Allen had to do was score and the game was all over. Alex read his shot correctly, and this save kept the scores at 5-5. One can only imagine how despondent, then relieved, Mikael felt.

Young Stephen Kabba then found himself shooting for Palace to stay in the match. Being picked at penalty taker number eight one would normally hope that the game would be all over by the time it came for you to have a shot, but the youngster shouldered the full weight of 10,000 fans on his broad back. His shot sailed into the back of the net and the pressure was back on the visitors. Incredibly Reuben Hazell blasted his shot way over the top of the bar, and suddenly those fans that were leaving when Mikael missed his attempt realised that we had actually won the game 6-5 in the penalty count.

To say the team celebrated would be a masterpiece of understatement, but whilst the celebrations continued on around him Neil Ruddock could be seen taking it all in his stride, as if this was a normal day at the office. Perhaps the man does indeed have nerves of steel?

As to Alan Smith, one would assume that his fingernails no longer exist, but if he had been looking forward to a match against Manchester United he will be sorely disappointed. They were beaten on the same night 2-1 by Sunderland following extra time, and it is Sunderland who we must face in the quarterfinals. Having disposed of both the Cup holders and the runners-up in the last two encounters, who is to say that we cannot extend this run even further?

A word of caution rates a mention though. The last time we reached the semi-finals of both this Cup and the FA Cup we ended up getting relegated, we certainly don't want a repeat of that performance!

Colin Pryce

Crystal Palace: Alex Kolinko, Jamie Smith, Dean Austin, Fan Zhiyi (Andrew Martin 101), Neil Ruddock, Hayden Mullins, Clinton Morrison (Stephen Kabba 105), Tommy Black, Steve Thomson (Wayne Carlisle 101), Mikael Forssell, Craig Harrison.

Substitutes not used: Andrew Frampton, Matthew Gregg.

Tranmere Rovers: Thomas Myhre, Gareth Roberts, Wayne Allison (Nick Henry 120), Clint Hill, Scott Taylor (Andy Parkinson 90), Reuben Hazell, Graham Allen, Jason Koumas, Richard Hinds, Paul Rideout, Dean Flynn.

Substitutes not used: Steve Yates, Joe Murphy, Ian Hume.

Attendance: 10,271

Referee: Mr D Laws (Whitely Bay).