May 5 2005

Iain Dowie

Iain Dowie believes his side can take one vital step towards Premiership safety by beating Southampton on Saturday and insists the Eagles are "ready for the challenge," by Stuart Pink.

Palace were replaced on goal difference by Southampton in the much coveted fourth from bottom slot in the table on Saturday after the Saints 4-3 win over fellow relegation rivals Norwich.

But a win for either club at Selhurst Park this weekend would see the defeated team's survival chances all but doomed and send down West Brom, providing they fail to get a point against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Dowie said: "It will be a battle and we will be up for it. This game is what being in the Premiership is all about and what we worked hard for last year, so we will be up for the challenge and ready for it.

"We have picked up four points from our last two games which has been pleasing, so we are in confident mood and we believe we can get a result."

The Eagles recent form has been encouraging, picking up an unexpected win against Liverpool at Selhurst Park and a useful point against a talented, but unpredictable, Newcastle side at St James' Park last Saturday.

So the Eagles will fancy their chances against a Southampton side who have only won once on their travels all season in the Premiership and have let in 17 goals in their last six games.

But with Norwich entertaining Birmingham, the Canaries could overtake both sides if they manage a win and there is a draw at Selhurst Park, so the relegation fight looks set to go to the final game of the campaign.

Dowie said: "It was always going down to the wire, I made the point when people were writing off Norwich, but they have got Birmingham at home and Fulham away and they are games they will be looking at.

"We have got Charlton away in the last game and Southampton at home, so there we are.

"Last season's big game experience hopefully will help us but we must affect our own game both individually and collectively and reach our targets."

While looking for favours off Manchester United and Birmingham, Dowie is also looking for the Selhurst Park faithful to make Selhurst Park an intimidating place for Southampton to play by turning it into a pressure pot atmosphere.

Dowie added: "I want Selhurst Park to be as pumped up and ready to go as it was against Norwich and Liverpool.

"We want noise levels to be at an all-time high as that will lift my players immensely."

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