Football / Coca-Cola Cup: Coppell punished by Smith
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Crystal Palace. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Arsenal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
STEVE COPPELL reckons Palace are like Bacardi - they go well in the Coca-Cola - but the spirit was all wrong yesterday, when their timid performance rendered the second leg of this League Cup semi-final no more than a formality.
Arsenal were two goals to the good, and coasting, before Palace remembered that they were at home, and in need of a lead to take to Highbury on 10 March. They never looked like building one - nor did they deserve to do so.
Starting with a sweeper was one thing, persevering with five at the back when they were 2-0 down quite another. Having played like mice, they finished with tails lodged firmly between their legs.
Coppell was in mea culpa mood, admitting his game plan had been fundamentally flawed. 'It dawned on me after 20 minutes that I'd got it wrong,' he said. 'I knew I had to do something else, but it would have been difficult to explain the changes I wanted before half-time, so I let it go until then.'
By that stage, Palace were 2-0 down and the game had been won and lost. Arsenal, invigorated by their midweek victory at Leeds were always the favourites against opponents who have never beaten them during Coppell's eight-year managership, and made short work of completing what George Graham described as 'a very satisfying week for the club'.
It might have been even more satisfactory, television replays confirming that Tony Adams's tackle which brought Palace their consolation penalty had been a legitimate one. Three-nil would have been a fairer reflection of the difference in ability and approach between the haves and have-nots.
Arsenal can buy virtually anyone who takes their fancy, and came close to relieving Palace of Geoff Thomas, as well as Ian Wright. Coppell, in contrast, must make do and mend - hence the deployment of Simon Coleman, a defender, as a stand-in centre-forward.
Much of the build-up had focused on Wright's return to his old club, but for once it was not 'Satchmo's' tune that Arsenal danced to, but the Brummie tones of Alan Smith.
Wright it was who supplied the opening goal, after 10 minutes, when he was felled by Eddie McGoldrick, and got up to dispatch the penalty, but his rangy partner was to eclipse him in taking his tally for the season to a modest five.
Smith had started the week with a dire two, but one at Elland Road and a couple more here came as a reminder that he, too, used to play for England.
His first, after 21 minutes, saw him shoot into an empty net from 25 yards, Nigel Martyn's collision with Wright having presented him with a yawning target. Smith's second, after 65 minutes, was an opportunist prod from much closer in, Kevin Campbell having done the spadework with a bone- shaking challenge on Andy Thorn.
Coppell's rethink brought on an extra forward, Grant Watts, which helped to make the second half more even, but all the huffing and puffing came to nought for the want of a serviceable striker.
Coleman? He was as nimble as a ton of nutty slack when crosses from McGoldrick and Simon Osborn sat up and begged for a decent finish.
Palace rallied, but the penalty it took to rouse them, nine minutes into the second half, had Adams justifiably incensed. There was no excuse for pushing the referee, for which he was lucky to escape with a booking, but the England defender had won the ball fairly in a tussle with Watts and was mortified to see Osborn given the chance to make it 2-1 from the spot.
Arsenal were angry at the time, but by the end they could hardly be bothered to complain. The return must be deemed a foregone conclusion.
Crystal Palace: Martyn; Sinnott (Watts, h/t), Shaw, Coleman, Young, Thorn, Osborn, Thomas, Bowry, Rodger, McGoldrick. Substitute not used: Ndah.
Arsenal: Seaman; Dixon, Winterburn, Hillier, Linighan, Adams, Selley, Wright (Morrow, 85), Smith, Merson, Campbell. Substitute not used: Carter.
Referee: J Martin (Alton).
(Photograph omitted)
Reports, results, page 26
European football, page 27
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments