May 2 2001

Aki Riihilahti

Eagles midfielder Aki Riihilahti has blasted former boss Alan Smith's training methods. Alan Smith was sacked by Chairman Simon Jordan on Sunday after the 2-0 defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Finnish international wasted no time in blaming Alan Smith for the club's current position.

Riihilahti has only been at Selhurst Park for a couple of months, but he criticised Smith's training methods and failed to decipher what Smith wanted from his players.

"He can be very sarcastic. As a foreigner, it was sometime difficult to understand when he was being serious or if he was joking," said the midfielder.

"In training, there was little emphasis on developing the players. Quite often, I would get cold because nothing was done to the full."

Meanwhile, Brighton boss Micky Adams is trying to renew an old rivalry should The Eagles be relegated.

If Palace go down they will meet arch-rivals and Division Three champions Brighton & Hove Albion in the Second Division next season. The last time the old enemies met was in 1987.

Adams said: There's no truth in the Crystal Palace rumours but the possibility of playing them next season makes promotion even better for the fans."