Crystal Palace scrap friendly against Portsmouth

Crystal Palace will no longer take on Portsmouth in a behind closed doors friendly at St George’s Park on Friday.

The Eagles will get their pre-season underway with a trip to Walsall on July 17 (1pm kick off).

Patrick Vieira’s side are at St George’s Park for a week-long training camp.

Portsmouth’s head coach Danny Cowley said: “We found out at lunchtime on Monday that Crystal Palace have cancelled the game, which is disappointing and frustrating in equal measure.

“To be fair to Dougie Freedman, they obviously have a new manager. Patrick Vieira initially agreed to play us, but I think they have picked up some injuries and are waiting for others to come back from international duty.

“As a consequence, that has changed our plans for this week. We will now try to get another fixture for Friday.

“We have a fantastic facility, referees and a lovely surface, now we need an opponent.

“The problems is most teams have a game this weekend. We are lucky, we have this facility and I’m sure it will entice someone.

“It happens in football, it happens more often than it should, but it does happen.

“We’ve got a good relationship with Crystal Palace and Dougie Freedman is a good guy. I know it wasn’t a call that he wanted to make to us.

“It’s frustrating, but I do understand the situation at Palace.”