Glenn Murray glad that penalty pressure was on Kevin Phillips in Palace’s 2013 play-off final

Glenn Murray reckons Kevin Phillips was the perfect player to take Crystal Palace’s decisive penalty in the 2013 Championship play-off final against Watford.

The 39-year-old veteran striker converted from the spot in the first half of extra time to take the Eagles into the Premier League.

And Murray, speaking ahead of the release of the Palace docuseries When Eagles Dare that covers the promotion-winning campaign, admits in one episode that he felt threatened when the former England international was added to Ian Holloway’s squad.

Murray had been on penalty duties all season – scoring 30 goals in the league – but suffered ACL damage in the play-off semi-final first leg against Brighton.

Asked by the South London Press about the fact he would have been expected to step up if fit, the frontman said: “I’ve never thought about that and I’m probably quite glad I wasn’t in that position.

“He was the best man for the job. I would have been nervous in that situation even with 30 goals off the back of it, I’d have understood the pressure. I was younger. Kevin was the perfect person, been there, seen it all before, he was cool and calm and got us to the Premier League.

Phillips signed on loan from Blackpool on the last day of the January 2013 transfer window.

Murray said: “It’s Kevin Phillips! What had I done in the game compared to him? I felt threatened, and rightfully so. Whenever you sign a striker, I’d have felt threatened whether he was from the Ryman Prem or a golden boot winner like KP.

“I understand how football works, clubs are ever progressing, hoping to get better, more clinical strikers, better defenders. I know how the system works and have been part of that, but I always took it a bit personally whenever a striker came in. I saw it as a challenge. It wasn’t like I wouldn’t speak to them, but it was a burning desire inside.”

When Eagles Dare is on Amazon Prime Video from June 4.