Eddie Nketiah reacts to Chris Richards’ ‘ugly’ Crystal Palace message
Crystal Palace edged the battle for South London on penalties after renewing rivalries against Milwall in the Carabao Cup.
The Eagles’ Carabao Cup third-round clash at Selhurst Park was their first meeting with Millwall since they faced the Championship side in the FA Cup last March, in a game which was marred by controversy.
Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts was sent off early in that match for a studs-up challenge which caught Jean-Philippe Mateta directly in the face, and left the Crystal Palace striker needing signifcant treatment.
Roberts’ three-game ban was extended to six matches for the severity of the incident, after Mateta was hospitalised and required 25 stitches before being cleared to return towards the end of the campaign.
Chris Richards celebrates Crystal Palace victory – ‘job done’
Palace bounced back from Mateta’s injury to beat Milwall 3-1 in March and Roberts left the Lions to join Mansfield Town over the summer, but Milwall fans’ chants towards Mateta weren’t looked upon kindly.
Those chants left a sour taste in the mouth for Palace fans as they welcomed their South London rivals to Selhurst Park in the Carabao Cup, and Oliver Glasner‘s side triumphed 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Chris Richards came off the bench to score Palace’s opener, only for an injury-time Ryan Leonard goal to force penalties, and after also scoring in the shootout, the Eagles’ USA defender posted on Instagram.
Injured striker Eddie Nketiah called Richards “my boy”, as the centre-back sent a defiant message to say: “South London is OURS. Wasn’t pretty but job done”.
Oliver Glasner needs more to repeat cup heroics at Crystal Palace
Football Insider Verdict
Although they weren’t facing a reduced Millwall side like they did in March after Roberts’ early dismissal, Glasner will still have hoped for more from his side in the final third against a second-tier team at home.
The absent Nketiah scored in that FA Cup tie, and Glasner could be deprived of even more options in the latter stages of this term’s cup tournaments if Chelsea or Liverpool advance their interest in Marc Guehi.
Paul Merson was left shocked at the news of Glasner’s contract expiring at the end of this season, and unless he’s helped out massively in the January transfer window, the Austrian could hardly be blamed for walking away.