March 2 2013

Ian Holloway

Crystal Palace boss Ian Holloway praised Julian Speroni and Yannick Bolasie in the win over Derby.

Argentine Speroni produced a number of fine stops before making a crucial 87th minute penalty save to keep Palace's one-goal lead in tact for a valuable three points.

Yannick Bolasie had put the Eagles ahead in the first half and the victory was Palace's first on the road since November, giving their promotion hopes a major boost.

Holloway said: "It's great to get that monkey off our back and it took a marvelous save from our goalie who I thought was inspired. To do well you need a good goalie and he proved that, but it was a good job he did.

"I knew it would be a tough game as Derby have been unlucky this season but they have a young side who are so enthusiastic and energetic and they deserved better than they got, but we have to take that the way things have gone.

"Julian was exceptional, he got his body in front of two chances they should have scored but I thought Yannick was the difference.

"He got on the end of something that was a bit fortunate and even though he looked to have pushed it a bit too far he's so quick and took it round the keeper so I'm delighted for him.

"We all looked a little bit nervous at the end there, myself included, because we wanted it so badly and yet the majority of that was a very good performance.

"I'm excited; we've got 11 games left and we're in with a shout of automatic promotion which is fantastic for everybody at the club. Even if we hadn't got what we wanted I would have still been buzzing as the whole energy around the place is on the up and I'm very proud of that."