Crystal Palace’s first Premier League win came in one of the most unusual settings imaginable: their own home ground. On 20 September 1997, the Eagles defeated Wimbledon at Selhurst Park in a fixture that saw the two clubs effectively swap ends for the day.
The unusual arrangement had its roots in Selhurst’s history of ground-sharing. Charlton Athletic had previously played there before leaving in 1991, when Wimbledon moved in. The Dons remained tenants for much longer than originally intended, eventually spending their entire spell in the Premier League at Selhurst Park.
Palace had already recorded an ‘away’ league victory at the stadium against Charlton in the 1989/90 Division One season. However, this was the first time they had won a Premier League match at Selhurst while designated as the visiting team. It was also their first victory at the ground during the 1997/98 campaign, having lost their opening three home matches after returning to the top flight through David Hopkin’s memorable play-off final goal.
The match attracted an attendance of just over 16,000, with reports suggesting Palace’s travelling support outnumbered Wimbledon’s home following by three to one. The atmosphere reflected the unusual circumstances, while the game itself remained goalless until the final stages.
With 10 minutes remaining, Dean Gordon’s cross was spilled by Wimbledon goalkeeper Neil Sullivan. Dougie Freedman was closing in, but it was Attilio Lombardo who reacted first, arriving at precisely the right moment to finish and give Palace the lead. Andy Linighan had earlier struck the post, while Wimbledon’s attack was contained despite the Dons having scored eight goals across their previous two games.
Lombardo’s decisive contribution helped Palace claim what proved to be their first and only Premier League ‘away’ win at Selhurst Park. The campaign would later see Wimbledon narrowly retain their top-flight status, while Lombardo ended the season in the Crystal Palace manager’s seat.
