EBERE THING IS WONDERFUL FOR EACLES

Eze strikes early to make history but hero Henderson's a lucky boy

- Simon Mullock

CRYSTAL PALACE lifted the first trophy in their 164-year history as the FA Cup once again showed it has no respect for reputations.

Eberechi Eze's first-half strike and a man-of-the-match display by keeper Dean Henderson ensured Oliver Glasner's side took the trophy back to Selhurst Park - and that Pep Guardiola will finish a season empty-handed for the first time since 2017.

Manchester City will complain that Henderson - formerly of the parish of Old Trafford - should not have been on the pitch to produce a string of brilliant saves that included a sensational stop to keep out Omar Marmoush's penalty. And they are right.

Henderson should have seen red for handling outside his penalty area in the 21st minute to prevent Erling Haaland having a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Incredibly, VAR official Michael Salisbury decided that Haaland was going away from goal and would not have found the net.

Haaland might not have gone on to score - but you would do well to find a bookie willing to hand out odds. Guardiola went onto the pitch to remonstrate with Henderson at the end.