Palace v Bristol City

Selhurst Park, Saturday 3.00pm

Story so far

You have to wonder when this inconsistant start is going to come to an end. Fortunately Lawrence needs to complete a 1 match supsension. It's just a shame he wasn't dismissed for violent conduct.

Hopefully this means that young Clyne will be given another run-out after impressing against Charlton for the reserves.

Bristol City have had a pretty average start to the season - similar to last in terms of games they're nicking by the odd goal. Goalscoring is a problem for them much as it was last season.

Nicky Maynard was meant to be the messiah up front for City but he's only managed a couple of goals so far. In fact, their top scorer only has 3 goals.

Team news

Defender Matt Lawrence is suspended after getting a red card at the end of the Eagles' defeat to Cardiff City last weekend.

With Danny Butterfield a doubt with a hamstring problem, 17-year-old Nathaniel Clyne may come in ay right-back.

Julian Speroni is ready to return between the posts in place Darryl Flahavan after missing out against Cardiff.

Bristol City's on-loan striker Stern John faces a fitness test after featuring for Trinidad and Tobago in midweek.

Quotes

Gary Johnson

Neil's actually a nice fella when he's sat in his office, but when he's in the technical area or when someone talks to him about football he changes.

"He's a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde character; I like Dr Jeykll but Mr Hyde's a bit dangerous. You have to compete with Neil as well [as his team], you can't let him walk all over you or get that one upmanship.

"We've competed against them well in the past and I don't want to wind the game up. Neil Warnock is Neil Warnock against us or anybody and in a strange sort of way I quite enjoy watching him."

Asked if he thought Warnock would use last season's play-off disappointment to gee up his troops this weekend, Gary grinned: "No." He quickly added: "Of course he will have spoken about it and we have to be ready for them."

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Bristol City - league stats

Position	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points
8th	17	6	7	4	25

Full league table

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Bristol City - current form

Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against
5	1	3	1	4	6

Full form table

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Our home record v Bristol City

Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against
36	22	6	8	73	41

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Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
13/05/2008	League	Bristol City	2 - 1	Crystal Palace
10/05/2008	League	Crystal Palace	1 - 2	Bristol City
18/02/2008	League	Bristol City	1 - 1	Crystal Palace
19/01/2008	League	Crystal Palace	2 - 0	Bristol City
12/12/1998	League	Bristol City	1 - 1	Crystal Palace

All time results

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One to watch

Michael McIndoe

As much as I don't rate McIndoe, he's probably the most likely player to trouble our defence.

One thing that I've previously criticised him for is his lack of end product. This has certainly improved in recent seasons allowing his pace and trickery to cause real problems.

Ivan Sproule, another one of Johnson's signings from Scotland, is also capable of using pace and trickery to beat his full-back.

Ref watch

G K Hegley

Last meeting

Bristol City 2-1 Palace

Tuesday May 13 2008

Bristol City: Basso, Orr, McCombe, Carey, McAllister, Noble (Sproule, 91), Carle (Fontaine, 113), Elliott, McIndoe, Trundle (Johnson, 109), Adebola

Subs not used: Weale, Byfield

Bookings: Carle

Goals: Trundle 104, McIndoe 110

Palace: Speroni, Butterfield, Hudson, Lawrence (Fonte, 46), Hill, Soares, Watson, Derry (Moses, 106), Scannell, Sinclair (Ifill, 111), Morrison

Subs not used: Craig, Fletcher

Bookings: Hill, Morrison

Goals: Watson 24

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