Iain Dowie: It is all about what we do

Coca-Cola Championship

CRYSTAL Palace prepared for the visit of table-topping Reading in perfect fashion with their fifth consecutive league win, this time at struggling Hull City.

Goals from Darren Ward and a Leon Cort own goal secured all three points and consolidated the Eagles' position in the play-off zone.

But Reading come to Selhurst Park with just one defeat in 29 league matches, no defeats on the road, as the Championship's best defensive and highest-scoring team and are virtually cast-iron certainties for promotion to the top flight.

Boss Iain Dowie said: "We are on a great run but it must continue.

"I'm always the optimist and although I believe Steve Coppell (Reading) and Neil Warnock (Sheffield United) have done fantastic jobs, I still believe automatic promotion can be achieved.

"We've got to go on a hell of a run and win as many games as we can but I'm not one for watching how others are doing. It is all about what we do."

Marco Reich, who is currently injured, said: "The Reading game gives us a chance to show how good we can be.

"I don't want to take the credit away from what we achieved over Christmas but we didn't play a top side.

"Watford are good but I don't rate them as highly as Reading, Sheffield United or Leeds. But we don't have to fear any teams in this division.

"If we want to prove how far we've progressed we need to beat the top teams and it starts with Reading.

"I still can't believe Sheffield United beat us here earlier in the season but that's in the past now."

Palace are fifth in the Championship, a mammoth 25 points behind Reading and 16 points behind Sheffield United in second but with two games in hand.