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Palace, backed by its 2,000 fans, drew a well-deserved draw with Tottenham on Sunday
There might only be 2,000 Crystal Palace fans at Selhurst Park on Sunday, but the noise that greeted at the end of the tie against Tottenham belied the meager numbers.
It was a similar story at Everton on Saturday and at Fulham and Southampton on Sunday, the three teams buoyed by the presence of their supporters as they collected positive results.
“Everton seemed to benefit, Crystal Palace seemed to benefit, Arsenal did not seem to benefit,” was the view of former Norwich and Blackburn striker Chris Sutton.
- Absence of fans in the heartless Manchester derby Listen to BBC Radio 5’s Football Daily podcast live
For Arsenal, what began as the jubilant return of fans to the Emirates ended with boos from Gunners players by the 2,000 in attendance as their team fell 1-0 at home to Burnley on Sunday to continue their misfortune. I start the season.
It was perhaps always difficult for 2,000 fans to make a significant impact in a 60,000-seat stadium, but on the smaller Premier League grounds, the result was different.
Would Palace have found a way to snatch a draw from the Premier League leaders if their home in South London had been left empty, as it had been for most of the year due to the pandemic?
Would Fulham have scored a point, and over long periods of play, over Premier League champions Liverpool?
We’ll never know the answer, but both games served as a visceral reminder of the noise and urgency that fans can give a would-be loser.
The fans, of course, returned to the Premier League grounds last weekend, in areas not under third-tier restrictions, but while Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool secured victories in front of their own fans, this time it was. the turn of the minors. Imaginary sides, possibly needing a little more of that cliche 12th man to turn the odds.
“The fans were amazing today, what a difference it made,” said Fulham boss Scott Parker.
“The energy when the players were warming up … This is the first game that they have returned to the stadium to see the Premier League and they have made a big difference.
“They embody everything I talk about week after week, what I tell my players and the media, the fans showed it today and they were fantastic.”
Everton fans watched their team beat Chelsea on Saturday
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp felt the presence of local fans contributed to the result.
“It’s the first time the fans are here in a long, long time and they obviously create an atmosphere, and it helped Fulham a lot in creating that atmosphere,” he said.
“They played differently than they usually do: long balls, high balls, these kinds of things.”
Southampton are a team that doesn’t need much help at the moment, climbing to third place in the table with a 3-0 win over bottom line Sheffield United.
But boss Ralph Hasenhuttl told Sky Sports he was “thrilled with a few tears in his eyes” to see 2,000 fans at St Mary’s Stadium.
“It’s wonderful in front of our fans. It’s great to have them back,” he said.
“They are only 2,000, but you can feel how much they enjoyed watching us. We gave them what we felt they should see from us.”
Southampton players and staff celebrated the victory in front of their fans for the first time this season
Everton were slipping down the table after making a lightning-fast start to the season but, with the backing of their fans, they surprised a Chelsea team that had lost only once this period before making the journey to the north to Goodison Park.
“It made a big difference, a totally different atmosphere,” said Toffees manager Carlo Ancelotti. “We only had 2,000, but the atmosphere was completely different.
“We are very happy about this. I hope the whole crowd is [back] as soon as possible.”
Fulham fans made a welcome return by walking to Craven Cottage for a game for the first time this season.
Crystal Palace fan Adrian was one of the lucky few who was able to take his place in the stands and watch the Eagles control Tottenham.
“It was great to get back to the stadium, a really bright positive vibe and a good atmosphere,” he said on BBC Radio 5 Live 606. “The palace was loud, singing and cheering, really cool.
“I think we had an advantage without a doubt. I think the reaction of the players to the game showed that it helped; I think we played a lot more as a team.”
While the return of fan support is an obvious boost for the atmosphere at soccer games, there is also a presence for when things don’t go quite right.
“Too often since the pandemic, he’s been really heartless in games and like being in a training match,” former Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer said on 5 Live.
“This is now bringing him back to what it’s really like to play in a Premier League game with the fans there, being scrutinized by the fans.
“Responsibility has finally returned to football.”
- Want all the goals and talking points from Sunday’s Premier League games? MOTD2 is broadcasting now
Source: bbc.com
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