
It is no hyperbole to say that this felt more like a Joao Palhinha testimonial match than it did an ordinary Saturday 3pm kick-off in the Premier League.
In the same way the crowd might cheer the every action — good or bad — of a retiring great of the game, the home support cheered with an unbounded pride every time Palhinha touched the ball in this 1-0 win over Luton Town.