February 17 2005

Iain Dowie

Crystal Palace boss IAIN DOWIE will make sure his side doesn't dwell on Monday night's disappointing defeat, by focusing all their attention on next Saturday's game against Birmingham, by Stuart Pink.

The Eagles will now switch their concentration on taking points off their relegation rivals, starting next Saturday, as getting a result at Highbury was always a tough task.

DOWIE said: "We've got to look forward, this result is an isolated result in terms of the quality we are playing against.

"Henry was second in the FIFA Player of the Year and you can see why he is magnificent, when he is on top of his game there isn't anyone better in the world.

"We've got Birmingham in our next game and that is what we have to focus on and we need to make sure we don't look too far ahead."

Eagles skipper Michael Hughes is also keen to look ahead and considers the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United, to be quite low on the Palace points agenda.

Hughes said: "These aren't our important games, it was great to come here Arsenal and if we got something it would have been fabulous but for us it's the Birminghams, the Norwichs, the Southamptons, they are the teams we need to beat or get something against.

"This season especially, to stay in this division they're the teams we have to beat and have to win, it's as simple as that."

Birmingham's visit to Selhurst Park now has added importance, as Palace face Chelsea and Manchester United back to back after the game, so realistic points are at a premium.

But DOWIE admitted that at least the Eagles are creating the chances to win games and if his side start taking one or two of these opportunities, more vital points will be picked up.

DOWIE added: "If we hadn't have created any chances then I would be worried, the chances we created against Bolton were as good as chances we have created all year and they should have been taken."

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