Palace v Manchester City

Selhurst Park, Thursday 8.00pm

The Carling Cup

Team news

Eagles goalkeeper Julian Speroni may have to sit this match out after taking a blow to the throat at Ipswich last week. He was rested against Newcastle on Saturday and manager Neil Warnock will assess the club's player of the year before kick-off.

Darryl Flahavan will feature in goal if Speroni cannot play, while new winger Ryan Smith could make his Palace debut.

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has promised to play a strong side for the trip to Selhurst Park. New signing Joleon Lescott is unlikely to make his debut until Sunday's Premier League game with Portsmouth. Emmanuel Adebayor and Robinho may be rested after sufering niggling injuries recently.

Quotes

Roy Hodgson

"I think the new owners for City have been absolutely fantastic and we just hope we can get someone similar in here.

"We’re trying to find one of these Sheikhs, wherever they are. We’re hoping they come to the match and bring their family. Then hopefully a ­brother, a sister, an uncle or an auntie can take a fancy to us and put a bid in to Simon.

"Things are pretty tight at the moment. I’ve cut out the starter on my lunch at the training ground – I’m down to the main course and the dessert now!

"Simon’s been trying to sell for a long time now but it’s desperately ­difficult to find anyone with enough cash at the moment."

Mark Hughes

"We are looking to do well in the competition especially as we have not got Europe this year so we have one fewer trophy at which to aim.

"It is a difficult tie. We know that any side of Mr Warnock’s will have a certain way of playing and a certain attitude about them which is a reflection of the manager. It is not going to be easy, far from it. We are not going to take the tie lightly.

"We will go there with a strong side. There are two views on these things. You can possibly give game time to guys that need it because we are so early in the season and maybe some of them need a little bit more actual playing time.

"On the other hand you can say let’s be really strong and hopefully start really well and get the game put to bed and then you make changes and give people opportunities.

"So there are two schools of thought and I know which one I am erring towards.

"Which one? Everyone will find out tonight. We are not in bad shape injury wise. And they have all already been told how important we regard this tie and this competition."

Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
15/01/2005	League	Manchester City	3 - 1	Crystal Palace
18/09/2004	League	Crystal Palace	1 - 2	Manchester City
16/03/2002	League	Manchester City	1 - 0	Crystal Palace
08/12/2001	League	Crystal Palace	2 - 1	Manchester City
04/03/2000	League	Crystal Palace	1 - 1	Manchester City

All time results

Ref watch

D Deadman

Last meeting

Manchester City 3-1 Palace

Saturday January 15 2005

Manchester City: James, Mills, Distin, Dunne, Thatcher, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Barton, Bosvelt, Sibierski (McManaman, 45), Fowler, Macken (Bradley Wright-Phillips, 72)

Subs not used: Waterreus, Jordan

Bookings: Barton, Dunne

Goals: Shaun Wright-Phillips 12, Fowler 15, Shaun Wright-Phillips 90

Palace: Kiraly, Boyce, Hall, Powell, Sorondo, Routledge (Shipperley, 77), Leigertwood, Watson (Andrews, 45), Soares, Lakis (Borrowdale, 60), Johnson

Subs not used: Speroni, Butterfield

Bookings: Leigertwood

Goals: Powell 32

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