March 24 2006

Emmerson Boyce

Crystal Palace defender EMMERSON BOYCE feels that no team will fancy facing the Eagles in the play-offs if the club's automatic promotion push is unfulfilled, by Stuart Pink.

The 26-year-old full back believes the Eagles are coming into form at the right time after a sticky start to the season, and although the aim is still second place BOYCE feels confident that the club can become victorious in the play-offs for the second time in three years.

BOYCE said: "We've stood in there for most of the season so hopefully we've saved our best for the play-offs.

"Some of the lads are still here from two years ago and having gone to Cardiff that will stand them in good stead."

"There's a lot of teams in the shake-up but as long as it's mathematically possible we'll be fighting for that second place.

"We've got to keep focused on that or we might start to slip like Sheffield United have started to do."

The Blades' recent poor run has given hope to the chasing pack in the bid to claim the second automatic promotion spot behind runaway leaders Reading.

Palace would have faced the two other contenders for the place, Leeds United and Watford by the end of the week, in what will be one of the most defining seven days in a long and hard season.

Palace have had to battle against high expectations both within and from outside the club this season and many feel the Eagles have underachieved, judging by their current standing.

Eagles boss Iain Dowie responded to the underachievement claims in a direct fashion over the past few weeks a stance echoed by BOYCE.

"You've just got to look at the other teams that have come down," said BOYCE. "We took a while to adapt but over time we've adapted quicker than the others.

"If you look at Southampton and Norwich, they'll say they've underachieved, but we're still in the mix.

"It's not been a disappointing season, just a hard season."

Live Croydon Guardian text commentary