It's too early to write off the Eagles, insists Derry

HOME PARK plays host to a club under siege tonight. There are question marks surrounding the manager's long-term future, fans are in open revolt and the team cannot buy a win. Another defeat and there will be talk of a genuine crisis.

Thankfully for Crystal Palace, the club really under the spotlight in Devon this evening are Plymouth Argyle, whose under-fire boss Paul Sturrock could be axed if their barren run of nine defeats in 14 games is extended against the Eagles.

But all is not well at Selhurst Park either. Palace have not chalked up a league win since Boxing Day and a group of fans unfurled a banner at the recent home defeat to lowly Blackpool reading: 'Red and blue on your shirts but not in your hearts.' That is believed to have infuriated the club's senior players and manager Neil Warnock, who is in no hurry to open talks over extending his contract, which expires in 18 months. Palace have also struggled in the absence of three key players who had fuelled their mid-season charge towards the top six: Ben Watson, sold to Wigan, Craig Beattie, who returned to West Brom after a successful loan spell, and the injured Paddy McCarthy.

Talk of meltdown is absurdly premature, given the club are safe in mid-table and could be only two points shy of the play-offs if they win their three games in hand.

But, having been forced to stew for 17 days due to a string of postponements, Palace skipper Shaun Derry today urged fans to keep things in perspective.

"It's important not to dwell too much on what has been going wrong," he said.

"Things aren't all doom and gloom and they shouldn't be blown out of proportion.

"We were hurt a little bit by players such as Ben, Craig and Paddy being out of the side. They're hard people to replace, particularly at this level.