I woke at seven. Emma was on her side facing me with her hair across the pillow and one bare shoulder out of the duvet. The dark green slip dress was on the floor at the end of the bed. I watched her breathe for a minute and got up.
The kitchen was dark. I made coffee and put Sky Sports News on with the volume low. The crawl at the bottom of the screen said FA CUP QUARTER-FINAL DAY.
The records graphic was up. Same one as yesterday afternoon at Beckenham, with the numbers updated.
CRYSTAL PALACE UNDER DANNY WALSH
Manager record: P47 W39 D5 L3.
Premier League position: 2nd (on pace for highest finish in club history).
Points after 28 matches: 70 (Coppell's 1990-91 record: 69 across 38, surpassed).
Unbeaten run: 19 PL matches (longest in club Premier League history).
Consecutive PL wins: 11 (Stoke away, December → Liverpool away, February, draw).
Academy debutants: 9 (Aviero is 10 if he comes on tonight).
Premier League win percentage: 79% (highest in club history).
