January 6 2005

Iain Dowie

After four points from four games over the festive period we find Palace outside the bottom three going into the second half of the season.

Psychologically, our position in the league cannot be overestimated.

If Sir Alex Ferguson maintains that the title race starts now, then the battle to avoid midweek trips to Crewe has been ratcheted up several notches.

After the crucial victory over a lacklustre Villa side, Iain Dowie reflected on his Christmas campaign.

Dowie was blunt in his assessment of the points haul his men had taken and the overall level of the performances he had seen, feeling Palace had not done themselves justice and fallen short of his own high standards.

Sandwiched between the disappointment that was Pompey at home on Boxing Day and the debacle of Fulham away on New Year's Day, Dowie was obviously extremely satisfied with the Spurs away performance and the win over Villa.

Personally, the point at White Hart Lane was the most pleasing.

Aside from the contempt that most Palace fans hold our so-called bigger London rivals in, the draw made up for the 3-0 defeat we suffered there just 12 months ago as a Division One side in the third round of the FA Cup.

It has shown how far we've come.

Live Croydon Guardian text commentary