February 6 2011

Dougie Freedman

Dougie Freedman said he never doubted he would secure a first win as Crystal Palace boss.

Palace earned a hard fought 1-0 win at home to Middlesbrough thanks to on-loan striker James Vaughan's effort.

Freedman said: "I am under no pressure, so in a strange way I knew the first win would come. We have a dressing room who will give everything they have got.

"I have always had the feeling I have enough up top to get goals. It is not being cocky, it is just coming together.

"Fortune favours the brave and Vaughany is definitely brave. I am always going to stick up for the strikers, that's for sure."

Palace could have added a second goal with a penalty in the last minute but Wilfred Zaha was handed a yellow card for diving.

Freedman added: "Wilfred didn't dive. When you go at the speed he does and gets a knock, he will lose his balance.

"It is a case of the referee not knowing the kid because I do and he doesn't dive."

Middlesbrough manager Tony Mowbray added: "It was about us trying to break them down. One lapse in concentration and a huge deflection when the ball was probably going wide was enough for them.

"We didn't do enough. We were a little way short of our usual standards. My main disappointment was that we weren't good enough to score."