November 4 2004

Kit Symons

Palace assistant manager Kit Symons hopes his side take inspiration from Southampton and get a result against Arsenal at Selhurst Park on Saturday, by Stuart Pink.

The Saints were minutes away from grabbing a suprise win over the champions at Highbury last week, which proves that the Gunners are there for the taking.

Symons believes that Palace’s good run has boosted optimism at the club and feels that the Eagles can get what Dowie calls a ‘dream November’ off to a winning start by notching one of the results of the season.

Symons said: “Four or five weeks ago we thought, ‘oh we’ve got Arsenal’, but now it’s ‘bring on Arsenal’ and the lads can’t wait for it.

“I’m not saying we’re going to beat them 5-0, but we generally think we’ve got a chance against them. “If Southampton go and draw 2-2 at Highbury, why shouldn’t Crystal Palace beat them at Selhurst? “That’s the way we’re viewing it and we’re going to go out and try and win the game.”

Palace have been boosted by the news that England defender Sol Campbell will be missing from the Arsenal defence with an Achilles injury, which will increase the Gunners vulnerability from set-pieces. But Symons feels Arsenal’s defence will still be strong despite Campbell’s absence.

Symons said: “He’s obviously an excellent player for them and one which his return to the side coincided in their improved form.

“But they have got an excellent squad, so they haven’t exactly got mugs to bring in. They’ve got good players to replace him, but I think he will be a blow to them and it’s down to us to try and exploit that.”

A result against Arsenal would be the perfect start to Palace’s ‘dream November’ which also sees games against Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle.

But there is genuine belief in the Palace camp that these games are winnable and they can put even more points on the table.

Symons added: “The form we’ve shown of late means we’re more than capable and a lot of these teams now will not be relishing facing us because all the pressure’s on them to beat us.

“You’ve got to be very positive and I except to get something.”

Palace expect to pick from a fully fit squad for the Arsenal fixture, with the news that Michael Hughes and Tony Popovic will be fit despite limping off last week at St Andrews.

Neil Shipperley played and scored in the reserves 3-1 win over Derby County on Monday, as did Ivan Kavides, but the captain is still some way off a first team return, along with Nicola Ventola who is expected to return to training soon.

However, Hungarian striker Sandor Torghelle was sent off for the second successive game in the same match for two bookable offences, which would mean an extended suspension of three games for the frontman.

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