Manchester United vs Crystal Palace: Scott Dann and Jason Puncheon revel in underdog role

Louis van Gaal's team enter the FA Cup final as heavy favourites

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Crystal Palace pair Scott Dann and Jason Puncheon will head into the FA Cup final on 21 May confident they can beat Manchester United.

The Eagles were excellent in beating Watford at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, controlling the match bar a 10 minute spell that saw Quique Sanchez Flores' team equalise.

Palace return to the FA Cup for the first since since 1990 when they also faced Manchester United in what proved to be one of the great finals, the match ended in a 3-3 draw before United won the replay 1-0.


 Scott Dann was at the heart of an excellent defensive performance 
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But centre-back Dann and winger Puncheon both believe their underdog spirit can see them go where Palace, and manager Alan Pardew, failed 26 years ago.

"We are always underdogs against the top teams," said Dann. "I think we thrive off that and hopefully on 21 May with can thrive off that. Everyone will be expecting Manchester United to win but we know we are more than capable of beating them. We will be going into it hopeful of winning the game."

Puncheon shared a similar sentiment.

"Being the underdogs suits us," he added. "It always has suited Crystal Palace. From the moment we got into the Premier League we were underdogs and look what we have done since then. United are a good side with some great players but everyone raises their game for a final. That is what everyone did [on Sunday]."

Dann believes Pardew's team have the weapons to beat Louis van Gaal's men.

"At times we looked as if we were a real threat. Probably more so than we have done in a long time, a couple of months I thought at any stage in the first half when the ball went to Wilf [Zaha], Yannick [Bolasie], Connor [Wickham] or Punch [Puncheon] that something was going to happen. We never really had too much to do defensively in the first half.

"We defended well and threw bodies in the way when we needed to. We had that desire to win, knowing that there is that big carrot at the end of the game."

Puncheon added: "You do not go all the way to the final and not try and win it. We have got the capability of doing that. We know Manchester United are Manchester United but this team can beat anyone on its day."

Watford midfielder Ben Watson, once of Crystal Palace, admitted he was left confused about speculation that saw Flores linked with the sack last week.

"I thought he would be up for manager of the year. He has been incredible for us," he said. "That is football. I do not know what is going on. If it is speculation, it is speculation and there is not much we can do about it. We have just got to get on with our jobs.

"Everyone in that changing room hopes the manager stays. He has been fantastic this season. He has brought different ideas and him and his staff have been great. To have a team joint-11th in the Premier League and to get to an FA Cup semi-final and be under pressure, then there is not much more he can do.

"It is what happens in football, managers come and go. Me personally? I hope he stays. Everyone in that changing room hopes he stays."