May 6 2008

Ben Watson

Crystal Palace star BEN WATSON has issued a rallying cry ahead of the crucial play-off matches insisting: "We've got to get into the Premier League."

WATSON opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 5-0 demolition of Burnley on Saturday which saw Palace clinch their place in the Championship play-offs.

Victor Moses, Tom Soares, Scott Sinclair and Clinton Morrison netted the other goals as the Eagles eneded the campaign in an impressive fifth position.

They now meet Bristol City at home in the play-off semi-final on Saturday with the second leg a few days later and a place in the Wembley final up for grabs.

Midfield ace WATSON can't believe his side's transformation from whipping boys to fifth spot since the arrival of boss Neil Warnock and doesn't want to mess up the opportunity of promotion to the top flight.

"When the gaffer took over, if you had said we had to win the last game of the season to get into the play-offs we'd have taken it," he said.

“But now we've got to get into the Premier League, where everyone wants to play. It's down to us, the gaffer and the players, to really achieve something.

“The pressure is going to be on us, given the manager's awesome record in play-offs. And Bristol are a good team, they wouldn't be in the play-offs if they weren't good.

“But we do go into every game thinking we can win it. And while Bristol have been up around the top of the table all season we have beaten them and drawn with them. We'd take the same again in the two play-off games.

"I'm excited more than anything because no one expected us to be here but we are - but in saying that we've not achieved anything yet.

"We've only done half the job - as I say we've achieved nothing yet and everyone knows that."