Palace v Middlesbrough

Selhurst Park, Saturday 3.00pm

Action

Team news

Crystal Palace defender Paddy McCarthy is still out with a shoulder injury suffered recently in training.

Striker Freddie Sears could start after recovering from a recent groin injury, coming off the bench to win a penalty against QPR in midweek.

Middlesbrough midfielder Isaiah Osbourne will make his debut after clinching a loan move from Aston Villa. Defender Chris Riggott is still sidelined.

Quotes

Roy Hodgson

"We don't chip in with enough from midfield and centre-half - I dont think a centre-half has scored this year yet - but we'll have to do that because we haven't got a 20-goal-a-season man or a 25-goals man.

"A manager can only ask his team to give everything and they do give everything. That's why I enjoy the group of players we've got.

"I would like to have a couple more players but I think every manager is like that. If I spent it I'd probably chuck it away so I might be better off with nothing."

Gordon Strachan

"I don't think I've ever been compared to Neil Warnock. That's a first for me and I've been in the game for 37 years, so that's a new one. I'd need a little bit of time to think about that - maybe about 15 years till I retire!

"It's important to get a result because our home form is not so great, and I can see why after watching the game on Saturday. We're creating a lot of chances but not finishing them. The support you get, especially from the away fans, is very important."

Middlesbrough - league stats

Position	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points
8th	15	7	3	5	24

Full league table

Middlesbrough - current form

Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against
6	2	1	3	6	5

Full form table

Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
30/11/2005	League Cup	Middlesbrough	2 - 1	Crystal Palace
02/04/2005	League	Crystal Palace	0 - 1	Middlesbrough
28/08/2004	League	Middlesbrough	2 - 1	Crystal Palace
08/11/1995	League Cup	Middlesbrough	2 - 0	Crystal Palace
25/10/1995	League Cup	Crystal Palace	2 - 2	Middlesbrough

All time results

Middlesbrough's top scorer

Adam Johnson - 8 goals

Middlesbrough's bad boy

Julio Arca - 5 0

Palace old boys

Marcus Bent

Ref watch

J J Linnington

Last meeting

Middlesbrough 2-1 Palace

Wednesday November 30 2005

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Parnaby, Ehiogu, Southgate, Queudrue, Doriva, Boateng, Rochemback (Bates, 78), Nemeth (Pogatetz, 57), Viduka, Hasselbaink (Maccarone, 62)

Subs not used: Jones, Yakubu

Goals: Viduka 52, Nemeth 55

Bookings: Parnaby, Southgate

Palace: Speroni, Boyce, Hudson, Popovic, Borrowdale, Andrews, Leigertwood, Watson, McAnuff (Black, 74), Andrew Johnson (Morrison, 45), Macken (Freedman, 75)

Subs not used: Kiraly, Darren Ward

Goals: Queudrue 31 (og)

Bookings: Andrews