March 14 2006

Iain Dowie

Iain Dowie gave JOBI MCANUFF a glowing review after he inspired Palace's romp at Stoke.

MCANUFF scored once, pressured Mamady Sidibe into conceding an own goal and set up Andy Johnson as Dowie's side strolled to a 3-1 win in the Potteries.

Dowie said: "JOBI was massive for us. Brilliant. He keeps getting in the right areas for the goals.

"If he wasn't there for the first goal it would have been a clearance.

"The response straight after their goal was probably the turning point.

"From then on we felt very much in control of the game."

Dowie is still hoping Palace can clinch automatic promotion by going on the sort of run that earned them a play-off place two seasons ago.

He said: "It's going to be enormously difficult. Sheffield United have had a fantastic run under Neil Warnock and so have Reading.

"It's just a case of doing what we can do. We think we're capable of going on a very good run but it would have to be a special run.

"Who knows? Never say never and I've always been an optimist."