November 6 2006

Mark Kennedy

Mark Kennedy slammed Palace's defending as no better than Sunday league football.

Palace twice threw away the lead to lose 4-2 away to QPR in the Championship on Saturday.

They have now picked up one point from a possible 18 and have two victories in their last 14 matches.

Skipper Kennedy says the team must keep things tight in defence if they are to get out of their woeful slump.

"The problem at the moment, which is a big problem, is that when we concede a goal, as a team, the heads drop," he said.

"The goals we're giving away are unacceptable. I wouldn't expect to see them on a Sunday in a local park. That is what is killing us at the moment."

Kennedy insists Palace can still make the play-offs, despite slipping to 20th in the table and 15 points off leaders Cardiff.

"This is a club that still maintains its aim for promotion," he said. "No doubt a couple of people will snigger at that because of the position we are in.

"They'll take the chance to have a go at us and we're giving them the opportunity to do that."

He added: "Everyone here is behind the manager. If he's under pressure, we're under pressure and he can only do so much.

"We've got to take responsibility. It's very unfair to start talking about the manager.

"I signed for Palace because I wanted to play for Peter Taylor and there are a lot of other boys who are the same."