March 12 2002

Jovan Kirovski

JOVAN KIROVSKI has asked Palace fans to be patient with Ade Akinbiyi.

Palace have failed to score in last four at home and are six points away from the play-offs and KIROVSKI says the fans should give Akinbiyi a break.

He said: "Of course I feel bad for him and the fans shouldn't get on his back.

"He just needs time to adjust and get used to us, and we have to get him better balls.

"He hasn't been here long so people have to be patient with him."

Meanwhile, Dougie Freedman thinks Akinbiyi is better off staying as a substitute so he can settle in better at the club.

Freedman said:"He has come from a very pressurised situation at Leicester and I think it does him good to be a substitute for a few games until he settles in."