January 31 2004

Iain Dowie

IAIN DOWIE was delighted with his first Palace home win in difficult blustery conditions as the Eagles beat MK Wimbledon 3-1.

An Andy Johnson brace and a strike from Danny Granville sealed a deserved victory for Crystal Palace.

"It’s nice to get my first win here at Selhurst Park, although I think people were making too much of it really," said DOWIE. "Prior to this I had lost one and drawn one - and our performance in the Millwall defeat was better than the one we produced today.

"The home form hasn’t really concerned me but obviously it’s good to get the victory here.

"The conditions weren't really conducive to playing good football but the lads battled hard and I was delighted with their effort.

"Our first goal came about after some great work between Danny Butterfield and Michael Hughes. Butts then supplied a lovely cross and Andy Johnson did well.

"At 1-0 up I felt we were in control of the game so I was disappointed with their equaliser. It was a great goal but I felt we should have cleared our lines before that.

"AJ capped off a great performance with a lovely goal at the end. It was a great goal by a man who is clearly in good form at the moment – and long may that continue.

"The lads deserve all the credit for this result. The backroom staff have obviously been working hard with them in training but it's the lads who put the effort in out there and got the win.

"They've adapted really well to the ideas and training regime I have brought in and that has pleased me greatly."