Ledley’s delight at bagging Gerrard shirt

Nov 2 2007 by Steve Tucker, Western Mail

JOE LEDLEY left Anfield clutching the shirt of his footballing hero Steven Gerrard, but would swap it for three points from Tuesday’s crunch Championship clash with Crystal Palace.

As they are without a weekend fixture, Cardiff will be in need of a win when the south Londoners arrive at Ninian Park.

Palace have had to endure an even worse start to the season than the Bluebirds and a home win will be a must if only to ease some of the pressure on City manager Dave Jones.

Ledley was full of praise for England star Gerrard, but was also pleased with his own side’s contribution to the Carling Cup encounter.

And the Welsh international – who claimed a No 8 Gerrard shirt even though the midfielder swapped with his former Liverpool team-mate Robbie Fowler at full-time on Wednesday – hopes it will provide the boost needed to overcome Palace next time out.

“It is great to get Gerrard’s shirt. He is my favourite player. No I’m not putting it on ebay, I’m going to be keeping it,” said 20-year-old Ledley.

“He shook my hand at the end and said I could have a shirt. It will be something I can show my family because they are all Liverpool fans.

“Gerrard is a great player, he showed it with that goal against us. He is probably one of the best players in the world.

“I thought we played pretty well, we defended well and kept our shape and could have scored more ourselves. We did get forward, we did not just defend.

“We did pretty well considering we were up against Liverpool, who are one of the best teams in the world.

“I think everyone is pleased with the performance, we all played our parts from the keeper right through to the strikers and we just have to move on now, starting on Tuesday.

“We have shown what we can do against a side like Liverpool, now we have to show what we can do against Palace. But we will be full of confidence.

“Against Palace we are going to be facing a totally different kind of game.

“They will knock it long into channels. It is going to be up in the air not on the floor. If you look at someone like Liverpool, they try to play football and so do we.”

During the second half against the Reds, Ledley engineered himself a great scoring opportunity only to be denied by a fine save from home keeper Charles Itandje.

Ledley was obviously disappointed, but after a taste of the big-time at Anfield he admitted he craved top-flight football, week in and week out, preferably with his home-town club.

Ledley added, “I would have liked to have scored obviously, but the keeper has managed to get down and tip it around the post.

“Those things happen, maybe if it had been a bit lower it would have gone in, but it was a great save.

“Every player wants to play in the Premiership. I hope that can be with Cardiff, it is every boy’s dream to be in the top flight.”