‘Every single one’ – Steve Parish makes Crystal Palace squad statement after convincing 3-0 FA Cup semi-final win over Aston Villa

Steve Parish says every one of the Crystal Palace squad could have won the man of the match award in their 3-0 FA Cup semi-final win over Aston Villa on Saturday evening.

The Eagles went ahead in the first half through Eberechi Eze and scored two second-half goals through Ismaila Sarr.

Jean-Philippe Mateta missed a penalty in the second half with Palace just one goal ahead, but Oliver Glasner’s side kept their intensity to add two more and brush aside the Champions League quarter-finalists.

Palace have booked their third FA Cup final in their history – their first since 2016 – and will progress through to European football should they win the competition.

Eagles chairman Parish told BBC 1 straight after full-time: “It was superb, wasn’t it?

“I thought every man was excellent. The man of the match went up and I thought you could have given it to every single one of them.

“We defended excellently and we took our chances. The mental fortitude to get over the penalty miss is a massive thing.

“All credit to the manager and the players. Today was a real celebration for fans of two clubs who haven’t won a lot of honours in recent times.

“For us, never. It meant such a lot to both sets of fans. It’s very difficult to win a trophy and get into Europe.

“We stand on the edge of doing something we have never done before, which is fantastic.”

The Eagles suffered a horrendous start to the Premier League season and only won one of their opening 13 league outings.

“I never had any doubt, honestly,” said Parish on his manager’s ability to turn the season around.

“Watching him work and the way he is, what you see in interviews is really what he is – he doesn’t have a dark side. He loves football and always believes we can win and instils that in the players.”

PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD