Dowie questions desire

May 10 2006

Iain Dowie believes Palace missed out on promotion because they didn't show enough passion throughout the season.

Palace face another season in the Championship after they were held to a goalless draw by Watford in Monday's play-off semi-final second leg.

Dowie insisted he was pleased with his players' effort at Vicarage Road but not in the campaign overall.

He said: "We showed great desire tonight, we should have shown that throughout the season.

"Mackay and DeMerit were the outstanding players in the tie."

Dowie played down an astonishing bust-up midway through the second half that saw Adrian Boothroyd clash with Fitz Hall after the Watford manager tried to delay a throw-in.

Nearly every player on the pitch as well as the substitutes, both managers and their coaching staffs became involved in the brawl.

Dowie said: "Our players did not show enough discipline, and we regret that. But those sorts of things used to be part of the fun of the game.

"Players stamp and kick each other in rugby, and they call it a gentleman's game. I would be disappointed if Adrian were in the stands for the final.

"That many of the players joined the brawl shows togetherness in our squad. I don't want the incident to overshadow Watford's achievement."