CONFERENCE LGE

Manager Glasner’s group-stage joy

- BY PHILIP DUNCAN

OLIVER GLASNER hailed Crystal Palace's “huge achievement” of eliminating the “noise” of their Europa League demotion to secure the club's debut appearance in the group stage of a major European competition.

The Eagles went to Norway with a slender 1-0 Conference League playoff first-leg lead over Fredrikstad after Jean-Philippe Mateta scored in last week's clash at Selhurst Park.

The south Londoners were strong favourites to complete the job yesterday, but had to grind out a goalless draw on an artificial pitch which appeared to hinder their rhythm.

Nevertheless, the result extended Palace's unbeaten run in all competitions to 13 - equalling the longest in their history as a topflight side - and secured them a place in the group phase of the Conference League.