Eberechi Eze quick off mark to ease Crystal Palace past Stockport
Eberechi Eze quick off mark to ease Crystal Palace past Stockport
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For Crystal Palace supporters of a certain vintage, any meeting with Stockport is bound to bring back fond memories of Dougie Freedman’s heroics in 2001. More than two decades on from his late goal that ensured Palace avoided relegation to the third tier on the final day of the season and having spent most of the intervening period travelling in different directions, only an early strike from Eberechi Eze could separate Dave Challinor’s side from their Premier League opponents.
![[Stockport players applaud their fans after the final whistle.]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f9136216da0535e36ae12f6ea06b898ea79d17a3/0_132_3958_2375/master/3958.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Oliver Glasner was grateful that Palace’s stand-in goalkeeper Matt Turner – who stepped in after a sickness bug ruled out Dean Henderson – stood firm in the second half as Stockport sniffed the opportunity of an upset. Freedman’s position as the current sporting director at Palace means there remains a strong connection to the famous victory at Edgeley Park nearly 25 years ago that proved to be a sliding doors moment for both clubs. While Palace have gone on to establish themselves as Premier League regulars since then, Stockport were relegated the following season after five years in the second tier and have had to work their way back from the depths of National League North.
Challinor has been a key part of their renaissance, with the former defender who once held the world record for the longest throw in football having guided them to two promotions since being appointed in 2021. He has made no secret of Stockport’s ambition to return to the Championship within three seasons and, with his side still handily placed just outside the playoff positions in League One despite four games without a win, opted to make four changes from the defeat at home to Mansfield last weekend.
