Palace and Saints in crunch battle

Victory inside a frenzied Selhurst Park was vital for both Palace boss Iain Dowie and his old friend and former manager, Southampton’s Harry Redknapp.

Dowie’s men breathed new life into their campaign with a win over Liverpool and draw at Newcastle and he named an unchanged side today.

Southampton have won away only once in 18 league games this season but they edged a 4-3 win at home to Norwich last week and the team that ended that game started today.

Redknapp named match-winner Henri Camara ahead of Kevin Phillips, Claus Lundekvam, who is believed to have suffered a crisis of confidence, returned to the centre of defence and Paul Telfer started at right-back.

Crystal Palace: Kiraly, Hall, Popovic, Sorondo, Granville, Routledge, Leigertwood, Riihilahti, Hughes, Soares, Johnson. Subs: Speroni, Freedman, Ventola, Watson, Lakis.

Southampton: Niemi, Telfer, Lundekvam, Higginbotham, Bernard, Oakley, Redknapp, Quashie, Le Saux, Camara, Crouch. Subs: Phillips, McCann, Smith, Delap, Davenport.

Referee: H Webb (S Yorkshire)