December 4 2003

Kit Symons

Prior to the defeat at Aston Villa, there were two clean sheets, the Stoke win, a goal from a corner, and a £750,000 bid for one of the Division's top young talents: it has been a funny old week in SE25.

Sadly another late goal against Coventry on Saturday reminded us that 19th placed Palace still have it all to do, but Jordan has seen enough to give Symons an extra month - and rightly so.

Unbeaten in four, Symons has got his players defending from all areas of the pitch, and they have conceded just two goals.

Kember’s adage about "letting the opposition worry about us" is one thing, but at times that seemed to mean not worrying about the opposition - just worrying.

Key to Symons' relative success is his assistant Stuart Gray who by all accounts at New Beckenham has introduced some previously unseen high-tempo training methods.

Something must be working cause in the last three games Curtis Fleming has looked good!

Rob Edwards is a great loan signing (remember TF's Christian Edwards, Trevor Benjamin?), Palace actually scored from a corner and Gray’s insider knowledge of Aston Villa could herald another cup shock tonight.

Talking of shocks: Reo-Coker! Eh? Hats off to Jordan for spotting a bargain, and potentially putting his hand in his pocket.

If he pulls it off, the £600,000 he got for Mullins will look like excellent business and in the outstanding Reo-Coker, Palace will have another gem to build the team around.

Fingers crossed!

On Saturday we are Preston (7.30pm), before the visit of Crewe on Tuesday - could be a great week.

Live Croydon Guardian kick-by-kick text commentary