April 11 2002

Matt Clarke

MATT CLARKE says the fans should not blame Ade Akinbiyi for Palace missing out on the play-offs.

Akinbiyi has only scored one goal, which went in off his nose, in 12 games since his £2.4m move from Leicester.

And the Evening Standard is wrong to claim today that he has been continually barracked by Eagles fans. The majority of fans have been very patient with him, despite his very evident lack of confidence.

CLARKE said: "The players are just as frustrated as the fans that we've failed to do the business.

"But it's not Ade's fault. He offers more to the team than fans see on a Saturday afternoon."

Meanwhile Akinbiyi who is on £10,000 a week, has asked for more time to pay for a £500 speeding fine.

He escaped a ban after clocking 103mph on the M1 and finally turned up after missing the previous seven hearings.