Crystal Palace manager, Dean Davenport, told us about the dramatic 4-3 win over Luton Town, as the Eagles fought back from two down to defend their unbeaten FAWPL South East Division 1 record.
SK: Was it a shock to find yourselves 2-0 down at half-time at home?
DD: Most definitely because I’d asked the girls to started the game well and they where on the front foot forcing five corners in the first 10 minutes. The shock came from how we defended the two goals, very sloppy and uncharacteristic of us but Luton are a good side and will punish you if you give them presents like we did!
SK: What were the feelings like in the changing room at the interval?
DD: The feelings from the players were one of “we must do better”. My feelings were let known very to the point and loud, not heated but ones of needing more passion, desire and willingness to compete. For the first time in charge, I didn’t think they could turn it around, as we lacked all the ingredients that had got us to were we were in the table, as a good team unit.
SK: How swift a turnaround was it when you got into your stride?
DD: The turnaround for everyone to see was straight from the kick off, we moved the ball quicker and the desire and passion was there from the off, everything that was missing in the first 45 was found. I changed the system just before we scored and the players that came on helped us to regain the fluidity, Once we got the first goal, we looked really well drilled and positive in our approach play and only one team in it.
Pictured – Crystal Palace celebrate against Luton.
SK: Luton may have seemed resilient with an equaliser at 3-3 but do you think you proved more so eventually?
DD: Luton are a very well drilled and resilient team, they had a 0-2 lead which they set out to defend and get players behind the ball. When they got their equalising goal – again a mistake – it showed good heart from them as we had just scored three goals in eight minutes or so, but the Ladies showed great determination to go looking for a winner and that has to be applauded as they got what they deserved on 83 minutes.
SK: Can you describe the feelings and emotions when the final whistle blew?
DD: Obviously from the girls it was one of jubilation and quite right as they had just pulled back a game that was out of reach at one stage. For me personally, I think I went through all the different emotions, quite draining as formation changes, subs, etc, to try to get us back in the game, then from getting in a winning position only to see Luton get a equaliser, it was a bit surreal. When the winner came, I was proud of what the team as a whole had achieved and like I said, they have to be applauded for the fight back.
SHE KICKS – the online community for women’s football
