Dream time for Dowie as Johnson strikes again

"Bring on the Arsenal," chanted the travelling Crystal Palace fans after witnessing an Andy Johnson inspired smash and grab raid over Birmingham City.

Johnson, a makeweight in Clinton Morrison's £4.25million transfer to Birmingham in 2002, grabbed the only goal in a game dominated by Steve Bruce's team.

"We need somebody doing for us what AJ is doing for Palace," said Bruce after watching Dwight Yorke and former England forward Emile Heskey continue their goal drought.

Whether Johnson himself is ready for international recognition is a moot point but Palace manager Iain Dowie said: "He certainly wouldn't be out of place."

Palace have won three of their last four league games to move up to 14th but Dowie is realistic about the challenge ahead, starting with Arsenal's visit next Saturday.

"Arsenal will be a colossal task but it won't be a problem keeping people's feet on the ground," said Dowie. "The week coming up is what we've dreamed about. It'll be tough but it's what we're desperate to have."

Right-back Emerson Boyce is one player who can't quite believe what he and his team-mates have achieved. Boyce, who was signed on a free transfer from Luton at the start of season, said: "Twelve months ago I didn't even dream about playing in the Premiership against Arsenal. I will be treating it like any other game but afterwards I will be thinking 'I've just come up against [Jose] Reyes'."

Johnson now has eight Premiership goals, one fewer than the league's leading scorer, Thierry Henry. But any talk that Palace are a one-man team is dismissed by Dowie.