January 13 2004

Neil Shipperley

Iain Dowie is backing Neil Shipperley to overcome his goal drought and win over the Selhurst Park fans, by Joseph O'Shea.

The 29-year-old has not scored since October 4, and Saturday's 0-0 draw with Burnley brought his barren spell to 16 games.

Shipperley scored 24 goals for struggling Wimbledon last season, but has only scored twice for Palace since Steve Kember signed him for around £400,000 in the summer.

After an hour on Saturday, the sight of ten-goal striker Dougie Freedman about to come on excited Palace fans but boos erupted when Wayne Routledge's number was held up by mistake.

Shipperley's number 11 was then met with muted cheers from the frustrated fans.

His manager Iain Dowie said: "It's not a big deal, someone put the wrong number up. It was always going to be Shipps. That's no disrespect to him, he's an honest pro, who works his socks off day in day out. He just needs a bit of luck in front of goal.

"He gets goals. I have not seen what’s gone on in the rest of the season but you won’t hear anyone in the team talk badly about him."

On the fans' reaction, Dowie called for them to be patient with his fellow target man.

He added: "I have had that reaction when I was going through barren spells so I know what it’s like. What Neil won’t do is back away from it, he will step up to the plate because he’s a great lad. I am not worried about it, if Shipps rattles in a couple in his next game then no one will be talking about it."

By contrast, Andy Johnson is enjoying the most productive season of his career, and has already gone one better than last year’s total of 14.

The former Birmingham striker’s prolific form is even more impressive considering he has been playing with an ankle injury and hamstring niggle.

Dowie said: "Andy did not train last week but he gives 100 per cent effort. He has got a little ankle injury, but 22-year-olds need to be training day-in-day-out to develop him. He’s very keen to improve his game."

Dowie is already experiencing the Selhurst injury jinx with Curtis Fleming’s hamstring injury forcing him to join centre backs Kit Symons (groin) and Darren Powell (thigh) in the treatment room.

Already without midfield trio Aki Riihilahti, Michael Hughes (both hamstring) and Shaun Derry (groin), Dowie withdrew Tony Popovic as a precaution on Saturday.

But he remains hopeful some of them will return for the trip to Watford on Saturday.

He quipped: "I don’t know but I am dusting my boots off! That’s bad news for Palace fans I imagine."

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