February 16 2007

Steve Bruce

Peter Taylor wants Crystal Palace fans to hammer Steve Bruce when the Birmingham boss returns to Selhurst Park tomorrow.

Bruce angered Palace by walking out to join Birmingham just five months after taking charge in 2001.

He fell out with Eagles chairman Simon Jordan and has had to run a gauntlet of hate whenever the clubs have clashed since.

But Palace boss Taylor hopes Selhurst Park is at boiling point for Bruce’s latest return because it could rattle Birmingham’s players.

Taylor said: “I hope they absolutely hammer him. That’s what the supporters are there for, be nice to us and out of order to the opposition.

“Steve’s big enough to take it. He’s a good manager and a good man.

“But it’s something that happens these days. It’s part of the game that you just have to get on with.”

Taylor admits Palace’s season will be over if they fail to beat Birmingham.

The Eagles are 11 points adrift of the play-offs places and Taylor knows they cannot afford any more slip-ups.

He said: “To keep our season alive we need to win the match. It’s as simple as that.

“The first half of the season has not been good enough so we always knew the second half had to be outstanding.”