The FA Cup winners were demoted from the League Phase of the Europa League and forced to play a Conference League qualifier, due to a perceived breach of multi-club ownership regulations. Welcoming their team onto the pitch for their maiden European clash under the lights at Selhurst Park, the Palace support belted an impassioned rendition of Glad All Over.
However, they soon made their feelings towards Uefa clear, booing the Conference League anthem – which is amusingly the same as the Europa League theme – before chanting in unison: F\*\*k Uefa, F\*\*k John Textor, F\*\*k Marinakis. Palace hold that trio accountable for their downgrade to the third tier of European competition.
It was an anticlimactic start for Palace, without starman Eberechi Eze who is nearing a move to London neighbours Arsenal, with Fredrikstad’s disciplined defensive shape neutralising their threat.
There was little creative pizzazz from Palace, who were reliant on punts from deep to tot up 13 shots in the first half. Intrinsically, Oliver Glasner’s outfit are optimal against more ambitious sides, with bursting runs in behind from Ismaila Sarr easily found with incisive through balls between the lines. A style of play suited to the English game.
But, as one of the favoured sides in this competition, they will need to find solutions as teams will look to sit deep and make things difficult for the English side.
Palace sought solutions, Adam Wharton frequently dinked balls from deep into the Fredrikstad penalty area, attempting to break their compact shape. Sarr had a chance to nod one of those crosses home when found at the far post, Martin Børsheim produced an impressive stop. Hughes brought down a punt into the area by Justin Devenny, the ball fell for Jean-Philippe Mateta, whose effort deflected onto the post.
There was pragmatism from Palace, as they attempted to work out how to deal with the difficult Fredrikstad, but for much of the first half, they were too flat.
Jean-Philippe Mateta found Palace’s first in Europe, when Fredrikstad failed to deal with Borna Sosa’s long throw. A pair of Will Hughes volleys followed from the edge of the box, the second of which flew towards Mateta’s head, who instinctively used his head to divert Hughes’ attempt into the back of the net in the 54th minute. An imperfect move finally paid off.
Palace upped the ante after they opened their European account, the link-ups were smoother, the play was not as clunky, and they started to occupy higher areas of the pitch. Daniel Munoz almost added a second when his compatriot Jefferson Lerma spotted him alone at the back post, but his attempt could only be guided onto the post.
It could have been a disastrous end when a tempting ball down the left unlocked the Palace defence in the third minute of four added on. Henrik Skogvold drove into the penalty area, but dragged his effort hopelessly wide of the Palace net. Dean Henderson and all inside Selhurst Park breathed a sigh of relief.
Palace will need to better their display when they head to foreign soil (well, astroturf) next week as they look to book their spot in the League Phase of the Conference League.