Palace hope win will help them land new targets

14 April 2012

Kit Symons believes being outside the bottom three gives Crystal Palace a crucial advantage over their relegation rivals when the Premiership transfer window opens tomorrow. Palace go into their New Year's Day clash at Craven Cottage seeking a win that would draw them level with Fulham on 18 points and keep them clear of the relegation places.

Manager Iain Dowie has money to spend in January and his assistant feels players are more likely to want to join Palace than the clubs below them.

Symons said: "Being outside the relegation zone and the way we have played against the top sides gives us more pulling power than if we were rock bottom.

"We think people will have done their homework on the kind of club we are and will want to come and join us. Spending a bit of money could be the key to staying up.

"Iain knows what he needs to give us a great shout and if we can get our targets then we are very confident we will."

Dowie is expected to bolster his squad with at least three signings with West Ham's Marlon Harewood and Bobby Zamora, Portsmouth's Eyal Berkovic and West Brom's Neil Clement possible targets.

Symons and Dowie hope the point against Spurs on Tuesday will provide the same kind of impetus as their draw at Aston Villa in September, which saw them take nine points from their next four matches.

He said: "We hope it mirrors our previous good run when we played really well for a time.

"Realistically we know we are going to be involved in a dogfight towards the end of the season. But everyone said we would be down by Christmas, so we are happy we are still involved in the battle."

Palace travel to Symons's former club Fulham looking to heap further pressure on his friend Chris Coleman. Symons added: "It has been a tough season for them and it was always going to be. Chris did well last season when they had a chance of making it into Europe. He over-achieved which makes this season even tougher for the club. But they have a strong squad and it will be a hard game."

Dowie's side moved off the foot of the table with a 2-0 win in October's reverse fixture and the manager will want to mark his 50th game in charge of Palace with another victory.

Finland winger Joonas Kolkka is doubtful with the rib injury that kept him out of the draw at White Hart Lane, so Greece international Vassilis Lakis could keep his place. Meanwhile, Palace's forgotten man Neil Shipperley admits he may have to leave the club if Dowie brings in another striker.

The 30-year-old club captain scored the goal that secured Palace's promotion to the Premiership in May but has yet to figure in the Eagles' battle for survival.

He said: "It has been frustrating watching from the sidelines. We have five or six strikers, so if someone else comes in I will have to consider my future."

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