Kevin Nolan: Crystal Palace will be pumped up

Jan 27 2010 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

NEWCASTLE United midfielder Kevin Nolan is expecting a difficult night against Neil Warnock’s crisis-hit Crystal Palace – despite the financial turmoil at Selhurst Park.

Palace were put into administration yesterday – the mandatory ten-point penalty they will incur plunging them into a relegation fight. It is a cruel fate for Warnock and his young players, who sat just two points off the play-offs.

It puts a different complexion on tonight’s St James’ Park clash but Nolan is adamant Palace will see the game as a chance to upset United’s promotion bid.

“We beat Crystal Palace earlier in the season but we know it’s not going to be an easy three points for us,” he said.

“Let’s face it, Neil Warnock is not going to make it easy for us. That’s not his style and I don’t think he really wants Newcastle to go up in all honesty. I don’t think anyone wants us to get promoted back to the Premier League to be honest!

“We’re going to give it our best shot from now until the end of the season because we’re desperate to go and do what we said we would at the start of the season – and that is get promoted. If we can do that we’ll be absolutely delighted after everything we’ve been through.”