May 3 2006

Iain Dowie

Crystal Palace boss Iain Dowie is urging fans to make the atmosphere at Selhurst Park red hot this Saturday to help the Eagles gain the upper hand in their play-off semi-final first leg against Watford, by Stuart Pink.

Palace's sixth place finish means they entertain the Hornets on Saturday lunch time with the second leg to be played at Vicarage Road the following Tuesday night.

Dowie is desperate for Palace fans to make Selhurst Park an intimidating place for the Hornets to visit and hopes supporters create an atmosphere which can inspire his side to take a hefty advantage going into the second leg.

Dowie said: "We need to make Selhurst Park an intimidating place to play on Saturday so I hope the fans will be pumped up and ready to provide maximum volume.

"Our supporters were fantastic last year when we needed them for the big games as the season hit crunch time so I'm hoping for more of the same.

"It's a massive game and I hope the atmosphere will match that. We need them to be on top form."

The Palace boss has also admitted he is not worried by his side's current form. Sunday's defeat against already promoted Sheffield United left the Eagles with a record of one win in five games going in to the play-offs.

Palace have not won two league games on the spin since the turn of the year, which does not bode well for a two-legged play-off, but Dowie feels his side have enough belief to get it right when it matters.

"The confidence is high going into the play-offs and we'll go into the Watford games believing in ourselves.

"We've got a good group of players who can handle the big occasion.

"We will show Watford the utmost respect, but I feel that if we are at it, play to our strengths, switched on and concentrating, then we are a match for anyone in this league."

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