March 9 2010

Paul Hart

Crystal Palace manager Paul Hart admitted his players looked tired as they were defeated by the odd goal at home to Bristol City.

"I thought as good as were on Saturday [beating Sheffield United], we were equally as bad tonight," he said.

"We looked a bit weary, which is understandable with what the players have had to put up with and what they have gone through.

"But you do know they have got it well within them to bounce back. We have to recover properly, rest and get ready for the next one.

"I have just said to them in the dressing room, 'look this is us, there's no more coming in and there is definitely no-one going so it is me and you and that's it, that's what we have got'.

"I said we have got seven weeks and there's three that go down, so if you finish fourth bottom you have achieved.

"In mid-season when you get thrown with a points deduction like that it is a real kick on the nether regions. They have had to cope with it and it's not always easy - even for strong players like ours."

City manager Gary Johnson said: "We felt we had to win all our battles over the field and then try and play our football and the tactic worked very well for us on the day.

"I had just called Chris Iwelumo over and told him I was bringing him off soon and that he needed a bit of magic in the next five minutes. He said 'alright' and went and produced it but that's Premier League players for you."