Wanderers 1, CRYSTAL PALACE 0: SAM Allardyce who on Tuesday celebrates five years in charge at Wanderers had demanded three points from this clash with Crystal Palace - and a Kevin Davies goal made sure his prayers were answered.

Big Sam knows Wanderers must get the maximum benefit from games against teams destined to struggle, a criteria which does not now include his team after growing success, including this win over promoted Palace.

Defeat at West Brom a fortnight ago wounded him deeply after great results against three of the top teams - victory over Liverpool, and draws with Arsenal and Manchester United.

Late pressure in the first-half paid off when Davies lept to glance home Bruno N'Gotty's long free-kick.

But Palace should have been level just after half-time only Danny Granville contrived to hit the post from six yards out and Wanderers held on.

Wanderers: Jaaskelainen, Hunt, Jaidi, N'Gotty, Gardner, Campo (Pedersen 16), Nolan (Barness 90), Speed, Giannakopoulos, Davies, Diouf (Fadiga 77).

Subs Not Used: Oakes, Ferdinand.

Booked: Davies.

Goals: Davies 45.

Crystal Palace: Kiraly, Boyce, Popovic, Hall, Granville, Routledge, Riihilahti (Derry 79), Watson (Freedman 69), Hughes, Kolkka (Lakis 61), Johnson.

Subs Not Used: Speroni, Sorondo.

Booked: Watson.

Att: 25,501

Ref: N Barry (N Lincolnshire).

It's going to be tough - Dowie

IAIN Dowie reckons Sam Allardyce has got Bolton buzzing with talk of European football -- and he should know.

The Crystal Palace boss still has a family home just up the road from the Reebok, where on Saturday he will go head-to-head with the Wanderers' boss he admires so much.

"Sam has done a magnificent job at Bolton this year," Dowie said. "The interest in the town has been brilliant because of the start they have had and they are dreaming of European football.

"It is going to be a very tough game."

Palace go into the game on the back of a mini-revival, having drawn at Aston Villa and recorded their first win against Fulham before the international break. But they are still entrenched in the relegation zone, having taken just five points from their first nine games.

Dowie knows they need a lift but he has told his players to concentrate on getting a result at the Reebok rather than worrying about events at The Hawthorns where the two other newly-promoted teams, West Brom and Norwich, clash in the Premiership's basement battle.

"There are a number of teams who can get sucked into that group," Dowie said, casting an eye over the danger zone. "What we cannot get involved in is worrying about what Norwich and West Brom are doing. We have got enough to do focussing on what we have to do."

Palace will assess both the fitness and fatigue of their returning international players before naming their side. Nine players were away this week, including Tony Popovic in Australia and Ivan Kaviedes in South America, but otherwise there are no fresh injury concerns as Fitz Hall has shaken off a foot problem.

Recent signings Vassilios Lakis and Anthony Danze were in action for the reserves this week and could feature. Defender Darren Powell, though, is out with a fractured cheekbone and forward Nicola Ventola has a knee injury.