Kember keeps feet on ground

12:44pm Tuesday 20th November 2001

Crystal Palace got back to winning ways since the departure of Steve Bruce and moved up to third place after thrashing Crewe 4-1 at Selhurst Park.

Caretaker boss Steve Kember said morale among the players was unaffected by the Bruce affair.

He said: “I thought the lads were excellent and I said to them before the game they needed to go out and prove that morale is still high at the club.

“Steve (Bruce) going was not something the chairman or I wanted, but there is still two out of the three management team here and we have always known how we wanted to play.”

Kember believes Palace are still capable of promotion, even after the departure of the manager. “Steve's beliefs, my beliefs and Terry's beliefs are all the same,” he said. “The type of football that we've been playing reflects this.

“We all think the players should work hard and give 100 per cent on the pitch. There is no reason for that to change because one out of the three cogs is no longer at the club.”

All five goals were scored in an action-packed first half. Palace took the lead after 25 minutes when David Walton headed a Dougie Freedman cross past his own keeper.

Five minutes later, Clinton Morrison doubled the lead. Fresh from Republic of Ireland international duty, he scored his 14th of the season.

Morrison was also involved in Palace's third goal. He found Jovan Kirovski, who drilled in a low shot from inside the penalty area.

On 41 minutes, Crewe managed to pull a goal back, but minutes later it was Freedman who restored the three-goal cushion for his 13th league goal of the season.

Palace had to replace goalkeer Matt Clarke during half- time. Kember added: “He had a twinge in his back which was sore and it got worse in the warm up. We played him in the first half to see if he could get through it but he was clearly in pain at the interval.

“I think he picked it up in training but, hopefully, it's not too serious.

“As far as our other injuries are concerned, Riihilahti picked up a thigh strain and that is why we replaced him with Thomson after an hour.

“Jamie Smith missed the game after his recent keyhole surgery. He has started jogging and is only a week or so away from full fitness.”

The Eagles travel to Gillingham tonight (Wednesday) in the league and are up at Preston on Saturday.

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