May 5 2005

Iain Dowie

"Bigger than the World Cup final" is how then Derby County manager Jim Smith excitedly described the fixture between his side and Crystal Palace in the 1995/96 season, writes Neil McSteen.

If the Rams won this, their last home game of the season, they were promoted and the Baseball Ground would see Premier League football in its last season of existence.

I remember being there, and despite Palace scoring through on-loan defender Kenny Brown, it was Derby's day.

A 2-1 home win was recorded and the rest was history for the East Midlands side.

Saturday's game against Saints has a similar feel. Iain Dowie and Palace are on the cusp of great things.

So much is riding on this game, that if Dowie came out with similar hyperbole to that of Jim Smith no Palace fan would bat an eye lid.

For us, this game is as big as the World Cup final, Euro Championships and Champions League all rolled into one. A win and we're virtually safe.

But no repeat of May 1993 please, when we beat Ipswich and assumed we were safe with two games left.

That celebratory lap of honour came back to haunt us.

Live Croydon Guardian text commentary