There is a significant similarity between this weekend’s appearance at Wembley and Palace’s last trip to the hallowed stadium in 2013 – and Kevin Phillips has put his finger on it.

The 42-year-old striker wrote his name into the Eagles’ history books when he scored the vital penalty that edged Palace past Watford in the play-off final and in to the Premier League.

With the sides going head to head on Sunday, memories turn to that sunny day in 2013 and Phillips was at the forefront of the special day.

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He said: “It was magnificent – first and foremost because of how we got to the final with the semi-final win over Brighton.

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“We drew at Selhurst Park and did not play particularly well, and everyone had Brighton down as favourites, but we put in a really good performance down there and [Wilfried] Zaha was excellent.”

Phillips, now a coach at Leicester City, added: “I had played in and lost three finals at Wembley, so I know what it is like to be on the losing side and it is devastating.

“I told the players that as losers Wembley is a terrible place to be.

“The longer the game went on, you thought Watford might get an opportunity, but it was not to be for them, and it was a memorable and wonderful day collectively and personally.”

Palace fans will be hoping for a similar result, and if the similarities in the build-up are anything to go by, then the omens are good.

As in 2013, Palace started this season strongly and were on the fringes of qualifying for Europe – however, since Christmas the season has fallen away dramatically and the FA Cup is a final shot at redemption.

Phillips said: “We were elated to reach the play-off final because, to be honest, there was a point in the second half of the season when we thought we had thrown it away.

“We had spent much the season right at the top of the table, and playing some excellent football.

“But then it all fell away and we only just scraped into the play-offs on the final day of the season.”

He added: “We were determined to put the season right and to finish it off strongly, and on the day we were the better team and created the better chances, and deserved to win in the end.”