Crystal Palace lifted the first trophy in their 164-history as the once again showed it has no respect for reputations. Eberechi Eze first-half strike and a man-of-the-match display by keeper ensured ’s side took the trophy back to Selhurst Park and that will finish a season empty-handed for the first time since 2017.

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 clearly handling outside his penalty area in the 21st minute to prevent having a clear goalscoring opportunity. and would not have found the net.

Mr Gillett clearly doesn’t understand the game of football. Haaland might not have gone on to score - but you would do well to find a bookie willing to hand out odds.

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Guardiola went onto the pitch to remonstrate with the celebrating Henderson at the end. Thankfully the City boss eventually realised that the blame lay elsewhere and offered a congratulatory handshake.

It also took Gillett an age to confirm referee Stuart Attwell’s decision that Bernardo Silva had been taken out by Tyrick Mitchell in the 36th minute as he dashed into the Palace penalty area. Attwell himself had hesitated before pointing to the spot.

Erling Haaland, having missed three of seven penalties this season, handed the ball to Marmoush after giving it a kiss. It was the kiss of death.

The Egyptian struck his effort with power, but the Palace keeper plunged to his right to produce an outstanding stop. Palace barely got out of their own half in the opening exchanges. Henderson saved from Haaland and Josko Gvardiol.

But the Londoners’ first attack in the 16th minute sent the Holmesdale hordes in Wembley’s West Stand into ecstasy. Chris Richards’ long ball from the back found Jean-Philippe Mateta and his pass sprung Daniel Munoz down the right to send over a low cross that was dispatched on the volley with some style by Eze.

Who was the man-of-the-match in the FA Cup final?

Mateta should have doubled the Eagles’ lead but shot weakly at Stefan Ortega from another Munoz cross. At this stage Palace had only enjoyed 17 percent possession.

City, with making his final Wembley appearance in a Sky Blue shirt, blazed a great chance over after Henderson had produced another flying save to thwart Jeremy Doku. Henderson wasn’t the only Palace hero.

Adam Wharton and Daichi Kamada were rocks in midfield. Munoz was a sensation on the right flank - and thought he had doubled Palace’s lead early in the second half only for a VAR check to show that Ismaila Saar was offside.

Skipper Marc Guehi eventually limped off after putting his body on the line alongside Maxence Lacroix and Richards. Guardiola belatedly sent on and teenage Argentine Claudio Echeverri for his debut.

Nerves got the better of both Echeverri and Nico O’Reilly as City lay siege in the closing stages and more chances were either saved by Henderson or squandered.

Eagles chairman Steve Parish and 35,000 fans were forced to ensure 10 tortuous minutes of injury time before they finally reached the promised land.

Palace had been here before, beaten both times by . Steve Coppell, manager of Wright, Bright and Co in 1990, was taking selfies as the celebrations lifted off..

The Eagles will be landing in Europe for the first time next season and the first thing they must do is make sure Glasner is with them. And Guardiola must now lift his team for Tuesday night's must-win clash with if the Blues are not to join Palace in the .

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