Mateta's on this bloody wild Cup ride all the way!

JEAN-PHILIPPE MATETA was taken from the field on a stretcher after just 15 minutes of the FA Cup game against Millwall early last month.

- ANDY DUNN

At that moment the only concerns of Crystal Palace fans were for the striker's health and well-being.

Such had been the brutality of the challenge that inflicted injury on the Frenchman, chairman Steve Parish suggested the striker's life had been endangered. No wonder there was little talk of when Mateta might return to the football pitch. ANY time would be great.

But now, this thoroughly likeable character - who had graciously accepted the apology from Millwall keeper Liam Roberts - will lead the line in the FA Cup Final at Wembley next month.

Throw in his missed penalty in this semi-final against Aston Villa when the game was only 1-0, and you can certainly say that, for Mateta, this competition has been eventful.

But even though he blasted that second-half spot-kick against the outside of the post, and even though he failed to get on the scoresheet, Mateta typified this Palace performance.

Aggressive, dynamic, altogether more vibrant than a Villa side whose tank seems to be emptying at an alarming rate.