LEAP OF FAITH

Plan comes together as Guehi rises to occasion

- BY NEIL MCLEMAN

MARC GUEHI will leave Crystal Palace at the end of the season when his contract is up - if not before in the January window.

But yesterday the Eagles captain scored the late winner to lift the FA Cup holders into the Champions League places as he seeks to leave the unlikely parting gift of more European football.

Guehi stated in a pre-match TV interview that "God has a plan for me" following the collapse of his summer transfer to Liverpool. "Whatever that plan will be, will come into fruition at some point," he added.

"But, the goal and the focus has always been playing football and trying to do the best I can."

The big man upstairs certainly moves in mysterious ways, with the south London club now three points and five places above the reigning champions after Guehi's divine intervention with his 87th-minute header.

Oliver Glasner's side have sold Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze in the past two summers, yet somehow continue to get better.