THEY were demoted before they had kicked a ball and robbed of their star player on the morning of the match.
Yet Crystal Palace’s maiden European adventure still began with a victory at a rocking, throbbing Selhurst Park.
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Eberechi Eze called in “sick” ahead of his £67.5million move to Arsenal – and he missed what would have been a lively old leaving do.
Hijacked by the Gunners on Wednesday night, from the clutches of arch rivals Tottenham, Eze had been billed for a swansong in this Europa Conference League play-off fixture which represented Palace’s first venture into major continental competition.
As a boyhood Gunners fan, Eze didn’t need to look into the history of Palace players who have crossed the river to north London – but he might have noted that Ian Wright’s switch to Arsenal went somewhat better than John Bostock’s move to Tottenham.
Yet even without their talented England forward, Oliver Glasner’s side defeated Norwegian Cup holders Fredrikstad – Jean-Philippe Mateta’s second-half header proving the difference against robust, rustic opposition.
Having qualified for the Europa League by virtue of their FA Cup triumph, Palace were controversially relegated to the Conference League because of Uefa’s multi-club ownership rules.
There will be some pretty obscure opposition to come for Palace in this third-tier competition – the likes of Hamrun Spartans of Malta, Polissya Zhytomyr of Ukraine and Poland’s Jagiellonia Bialystok are not exactly European royalty.
But Europe is Europe – the dream of any club outside of the filthy-rich elite and so this was a night Palace fans were determined to make the most of, dissing Uefa and roaring their heroes in equal measure.
There is still work to do in next Thursday’s second leg on an artificial surface in Norway before Palace can book their place in the group stage – yet Fredrikstad are surely too limited to derail Glasner’s side.
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On the eve of the match, the Eagles boss had been bullish about Eze starting here but as soon as news of Arsenal’s swoop had arrived, it felt like a serious long shot.
Who would allow a £67million asset to be kicked by a big hairy Norwegian centre-half before he had signed on the dotted line?
Especially given that Frederikstad were built like a team of lumberjacks.
The official line was that Eze had delivered a sicknote on the morning of matchday which sounded like one to file away with the “dog ate my homework”.
Glasner did not sound best pleased about it all in his pre-match TV interview.
The Palace supporters registered their own displeasure at demotion to the Conference League by booing the competition’s anthem and chanting “f*** Uefa, f*** John Textor, f*** Marinakis.
Textor was the former Palace minority owner and majority owner of Lyon, who also qualified for the Europa League – ultimately causing the south London club’s demotion.
Evangelos Marinakis is the owner of Forest, who says he isn’t really the owner of Forest, who were the beneficiaries of Palace’s misfortune and actively campaigned to have Palace chucked out of the Europa League.
Forest’s visit to Selhurst Park on Sunday promises to be seriously spicy.
Still, whatever the level, this was the first time European football had been staged in south London since Millwall’s one and only venture, as FA Cup runners-up in 2004.
And Selhurst Park was rocking – partly through protest, partly through support for Glasner’s men.
Palace did not find Fredrikstad – hammered 5-1 by Danish side Midtjylland in a Europa League qualifier last week – an easy side to break down.
Mateta had a shot on the turn saved, Marc Guehi volleyed well wide, Adam Wharton’s effort was thwarted by keeper Martin Borsheim, whose blunder then allowed left-back Borna Sosa an effort on goal.
Shortly before half-time, Palace twice came agonisingly close to the breakthrough – Mateta driving against the foot of a post and Ismaila Sarr having a header well saved before a goalmouth scramble which included a last-ditch clearance.
Palace were certainly missing Eze’s quick feet against a team intent on sitting deep.
Frederikstad managed a few corners and long throws but they were every bit as basic as the football played when Norway’s own Egil Olsen used to manage Wimbledon at this ground.
After the break, Will Hughes bent a shot narrowly over the bar and Justin Devenny – Eze’s stand-in – nodded over from close range when he ought to have netted.
The opener finally arrived on 54 minutes, a long throw causing mayhem in the visiting defence and a wild Hughes volley diverted home cutely by the head of Mateta.
The place erupted at the latest moment of history for this buoyant South London club.
Sosa blazed over soon after and Fredrikstad’s time-wasting reached ludicrous proportions when Daniel Eid was booked for taking too long drying the ball with a towel as he prepared to take a throw-in.
Daniel Munoz headed against the post but as Palace’s efforts became increasingly frantic, the Norwegians held firm to keep the tie alive.
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