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.
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 but could not take their chances.
