Five Year Plan

Palace's playoff win over Brighton was soo damn good, so we are more than happy to share anything related to it.

And thanks to Phil Morgan here are two brilliant comic style storyboards of the whole thing.

The first celebrates the 2-0 win at the Amex, the second Glenn Murray's move from the Seagulls to SE25.

Take it away Phil...

Follow Phil on Twitter.

FYP editor JD was at the Amex last Monday, but undercover. Here's out how be snuck behind enemy lines and survived.

When Wilf Zaha spun Gordon Greer and slammed the ball into the top of the Brighton net last Monday the away end exploded. It was a goal that confirmed Palace's play at Wembley for the playoff final, and not only that, but wrapped up a famous win over our arch rivals, in their own back yard. 

Those celebrations were both an expression of relief, pure joy at doing something we didn't expect and mostly lauding it over those cocky Brighton fans who had expected to walk into the final.

But I wasn't able to join in with those celebrations. I was at the Amex yes, but I wasn't in the away end, I was in the press section covering live tweets for FYP and writing a match report. Actually, I wasn't even in the press section proper as it was such a busy game, I was in the 'overflow' which is basically the seats in front of the sectioned off press area, right next to home fans. 

In most modern grounds press boxes in with the crowd, and these are cordoned off areas in case fans feel like overstepping the mark, not that any ever do. There are usually stewards there too. Some press boxes, like Palace's, are at the back of the a stand, like an executive box. 

But at Brighton it was like being behind enemy lines. I was sat in a seat with my computer on my lap. Celebrating was totally off the map for me. It is most weeks anyway as I tweet from the Selhurst press box but I sometimes can't help myself, however there is no inherent danger there; at the Amex I had to be careful.

Just across the aisle were some pretty angry Brighton fans, if they knew I was a Palace fan, let alone a blogger, I'm sure my laptop would have been half way to the pitch. With both of Zaha's goals I had to lower the laptop lid and pretend I was just writing a normal match report and not typing 'YYEEESSSSSSSSS!!!!'

It didn't help that I saw a Brighton supporting friend of mine leaving the stadium after the second goal (no surprises there). He hugged me but then said rather loudly "You lucky bastard!"

I brushed him off. I didn't want to be unmasked to the rather angry Seagulls fans streaming out of the stadium.

Thankfully no-one seemed to notice. I was able to wrap up my tweets and match report while at the same time taking the Palace celebrations in. I shared dumbfounded looks with some of the other journos who are also Palace fans. Was this really happening? How we longed to be with the other Palace fans going crazy in the away end.

We piled back into the stadium and the mixed zone area to see Ian Holloway and Gus Poyet's post match conferences and talk to Palace players who were milling around. The Brighton press people were very helpful and friendly it must be said.

I packed up my stuff and headed to Falmer train station to get back to London. But because I had to hang around at the stadium I wasn't part of the pack of Palace fans, who the Police had marched onto the trains after the game, so had to keep my head down and pretend to be a Brighton fan or a neutral.

My train, when it came, was packed with angry Brighton fans, singing anti-Palace song and moaning to each other about how horrible Holloway is and how mc they hate Eagles.

I put my earphones in but didn't play any music, so I could look like I wasn't paying attention but listen out in case any of them decided I was a Palace fan. Lucky I was't wearing any colours and got away with it.

The train got to Brighton, I jumped onto one to Croydon and was home in a few hours. I'd managed to sneak behind enemy lines and lived to tell the tale.

PALACE ARE GOING TO WEMBLEY!!

To get you in the mood for Bank Holiday Monday's clash with Watford, here are Palace's Top 5 playoff moments!

Enjoy!

5. Watson's header v Bristol City

Urgh, I hate Ashton Gate, we always get screwed over there and this time in 2008 we did it to ourselves when Ben Watson missed a penalty. But he had gloriously brought Palace back into the tie earlier on with a 25-yard lobbed header. Beautiful.

4. Shipperley's tap in

Not the most beautiful of goal by any means, but the Big Man's tap-in in 2004 was glorious, especially as it came against those arrogant so-and-sos from East London, who thought they have promotion wrapped up already. (About 1m in on the vid)

3. Pitch invasion v Blackburn

Palace's first playoff promotion back in 1989 sparked wild celebrations on the pitch from Palace fans after turning around a 3-1 deficit to win on away goals thanks to a 3-0 victory at Selhurst. (3m56s in on the vid)

2. Shipperley's shove

Was it a foul? Course it was! But who cares! Shipps' bundles Sorensen out of the way to allow Darren Powell to nod in a 92nd minute equaliser in the semi-final in 2004, which Palace then won on penalties.

1. Hopkin looking to curl one...

Perhaps my favourite goal EVER. David Hopkin picks out the top corner in the dyring seconds of the 1997 playoff final against Sheffield United. What made it more special was Palace had their hearts broken the year before in similar fashion (well, via a shin) against Leicester.

Special mentions for:

Freedman's lob v Wolves in 1997 (can't find a video for it!)

Tango Man at Wembley in 1996.

Michael Hughes' penalty at Sunderland.