Zero points, maximum respect

Having barely had time to take in the events of the last few days, the lads were back in action tonight against table-topping Championship intruders Newcastle United. Having tuned in on the radio, it sounds like we gave them a real fright, despite eventually going down 2-0. In times such as these you would hope that lady luck would look favourably on us...but did she? Did she bollocks. None of us need an own goal at the moment, let alone one that - according to the commentator - 'defied physics'. Cheers for that God. Three missed sitters, one bit of woodwork, an Ertl injury and a Routledge assist later (the words wound and salt spring to mind), and the game was lost. Still, it sounds like the red and blue army turned up in numbers; their dulcet tones could be heard loud and clear through the radio, all the more impressive considering that they were sat in a different postcode to the players.

If anyone was under any illusions as to the scale of the problems facing the club at the moment, the fact that we had three - yes, three - on the bench this evening should serve as a sobering reminder of our current predicament. As has been widely reported, our cause wasn't helped by the forced exclusion of Victor Moses, left out of the squad at the request of the administrators. Whilst all but the most deluded of optimists have resigned themselves to losing Victor, never before had the intention to flog him been so clearly spelt out. Losing a talent like Vic was always going to be hard, but the thought of losing him for peanuts - potentially to a team in our own division - makes me feel mildly ill, especially when you know that's not what he would want. Still, I'll leave the Moses eulogising / over-the-top torrent of depression until the axe finally falls on his all too fleeting Palace career. Instead, let's focus on the altogether more upbeat picture below. Much as I like Curley, I can't say I envy our Vic here, no matter how much he appears to be loving it:

The talk before the game from Sir Neil highlighted the uncertainty around the club at the moment, with him mentioning that his own position is anything but secure. No doubt that situation will become clearer over the next few weeks, but I think I speak for, well, everyone when I say that Colin's departure would be a disaster of Kuqi sized proportions. I can only assume that he'll be at the helm for Saturday's game with Peterborough - unbelievably, a relegation six pointer. Personally I can't wait; getting behind the lads has rarely been so important. If they do us half as proud as they did tonight, then I'm confident we'll all be leaving Selhurst in a good mood.

Dan