High on confidence following a successful transfer window and victory over West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, Palace travelled to Merseyside in good spirits looking forward to a match which would surely prove to be a tight affair - but very much a winnable one.

Romelu Lukaku was out for the Toffees and they had no out and out striker available.

On the other hand Palace had a fully fit squad for the first time in eons.

Naturally then, the game was postponed.

After more than six hours on the coach, we reached Liverpool and found an overturned lorry blocking part of the road and two cars stopped on the side of the carriageway.

Already, we had passed an overturned lorry having turned off the M6, with the driver receiving treatment for potentially serious injuries at the side of the road.

All of these problems had been caused by the severe weather - so bad in fact, that a red weather warning had been in place for Merseyside that day, meaning potential for loss of life.

Nonetheless, the coaches had departed and as the weather deteriorated with extremely strong winds, my friends discussed the postponement of a match at Tranmere many moons ago.

Not for a minute did we expect to rock up to Goodison Park and have the match called off, given the decision to allow the coaches to depart and the status of Everton as a long term Premier League club.

Unfortunately, as we reached Liverpool, it was déjà vu as the announcement of postponement was relayed to the 60 fans on the coach.

My friends regaled me with their tale of reaching Tranmere only to find the game called off, but this was different.

It was a shambles.

People will suggest that no-one can be blamed for the postponement, which is true. But the decision of the police not to do so prior to the supporters leaving when the Met office had warned against travelling to the north west earlier that morning, was disappointing and infuriating.

I’d rather be alive and well and have travelled on an uncomfortable coach for 12 hours for essentially no purpose than have been injured by debris from buildings at the stadium but the weather was clearly dangerous and there should have been consideration for those travelling so far.

We won’t mention the stupidity of the Premier League’s fixture generator putting the game on in February and having Liverpool play Fulham on the same night…

Your Local Guardian:

Different this time round: There is every chance Palace could take something off Manchester United next weekend     

A 12-hour coach journey for nothing has not dampened my enthusiasm to follow Palace over land and sea (and Brighton) and attentions will now turn to the mid-table clash with Manchester United a week on Saturday.

Given the shocking form of late from the Red Devils under David Moyes and Palace’s excellent home record under Tony Pulis, there is a chance, a very real chance, that the Eagles might just nick a point or three from the once fearsome United.

If Tom Ince can replicate his excellent debut performance, Glenn Murray’s return can continue to raise morale amongst the fans and Julian Speroni continue to perform heroics in the Palace goal as he chases a World Cup spot, then maybe, just maybe, we might be in for a treat at Selhurst Park.