CRYSTAL Palace manager Neil Warnock is determined to defy the bookmakers by leading his cash-strapped side to promotion.

The Eagles chief is determined to guide his side to the Premier League despite many forecasting a difficult season at Selhurst Park.

He said: “The bookies put us in the bottom six and they’re not usually far wrong.

“There is going to have to be a few players that step up and do a little bit more and get a few more goals from somewhere to be able to get up where we are going to need to be.

“It does not get any easier. The challenge is always there and the circumstances are a little bit difficult at the moment but that is what you have got to do that is what we are in it for.

“The buzz of competing and doing the best you can with what you have got and that is what we aim to do.

“I only have two years left so I would rather go up and it would be great to go up automatically.”

Warnock admitted he is not a fan of the pre-season schedule and is now relishing the opportunity to get back to playing competitive games – starting with this Saturday’s opening day clash with Plymouth.

He said: “It has gone well. The last two games haven’t been so good, we lost both and didn’t score a goal but overall it has been a very good pre-season.

“I hate pre-season and I hate the games with nothing to play for.

“Personally I am glad there is something at stake now. I like it to mean something.

“If Plymouth had seen us the last couple of games they would probably be rubbing their hands together with glee but it is a different ball game when the season starts.

“Although you don’t take the first game usually as anything, I think we are ready for it and lads are ready for some action now.”

Warnock added: “It could have been better we could have been away from home then with Torquay away on Tuesday.

“I could have had a great five or six days down in Devon and Cornwall but it wasn’t to be, so we are going to have to put up with Selhurst Park.

“Plymouth beat us comfortably last year at Selhurst.

“I think Gallagher scored a cracking goal and they deserved to beat us, so I hope we can give them a better game.

“They are very much like ourselves really - we are battling against the big clubs.

“I’m not being disrespectful, I am on about the financial platform and that is how it is going to be. We are going to have to battle for everything we get.

“There will be some games that are not so pretty and we are going to have battle to come away with some points and I expect Saturday to be the same.”