February 12 2006

Iain Dowie

Iain Dowie fears ANDY JOHNSON will be ruled out for several weeks after suffering a thigh injury.

England striker JOHNSON was forced off an hour into the goalless draw at Sheffield Wednesday.

Dowie said: "He's got a laceration, a very serious gash, on his thigh.

"We'll see how it goes but it is not a pretty-looking injury."

Palace had to settle for a point against struggling Wednesday but, although the home side had the better opportunitues, Dougie Freedman wasted a chance to win a scrappy clash.

Dowie said: "It wasn't the greatest of surface to pass on. We've got the same at home and it's not easy, particularly at this time of year when it's bouncing everywhere.

"We managed at times to pass it, but nowhere near as well as we would have liked. We're not pleased with a point but it's not the end of the world.

"I think our final ball wasn't good enough, we continue to play long rather than short, so we were disappointed in the second half.

"It was a very average performance but we never looked like conceding."