CRYSTAL Palace fans showed their appreciation to Dougie Freedman prior to Saturday's game, leaving the Wanderers boss “humbled” by the welcome.

Despite having served the club for more than a decade as player and coach, it was not known what kind of greeting he would receive on the pitch at Selhurst Park, four months after he had left the club for the Reebok.

There had been a few jeers as he stepped off the team coach with the Whites players – but Freedman was afforded a warm round of applause as he walked on to the pitch from the tunnel.

“It was a lovely reception and I’m humbled by it,” he said after the game.

“We worked very hard for the club and left it in a good state.

“But to hear that applause made me feel very proud.”

Freedman was also happy with how his side had contained Palace danger man Wilfried Zaha.

Although the £12million-rated winger came into the game in the second half, the Wanderers boss was content with his team’s defensive effort and felt they deserved a point in South East London.

“I know Wilfried inside out, probably better than any coach ever will know him,” said Freedman, who had coached the youngster since 2007.

“I taught him what he knows and I felt I knew what to do – and I felt our players kept him quiet.

“The defending was magnificent and the distances in defending was good, doubling up.

“In the end they flashed a couple of crosses across goal but we had a few chances too. I think a draw was a fair result.”