Neil Warnock has urged his Crystal Palace players to step up and prove the bookmakers wrong.

The Eagles are predicted to finish in the bottom half by the majority of betting companies and although Warnock realises it is not going to be an easy season, he is hopeful of pulling off a few surprises.

"I think you have to be optimistic," he said.

"The bookies put us in the bottom six and they are not usually far wrong so there are going to have to be players who step up and do a little bit more.

"At this moment in time goals have been a problem for us apart from early on in pre-season.

"We've got a lot of work to do in that department, but I think we have the players that can score the goals."

The Eagles' boss also declared he is desperate to return to the Premier League with Palace so he can have one final crack at the top flight before his contract ends in 2011.

"I would like to go up and it would be great to go up automatically," said the Yorkshireman.

"We need to have no injuries whatsoever and we need people to score goals who haven't scored for a while, but I think anything is possible in this league.

"I just want to rattle a few cages really."

Although the Eagles are labelled by most as underdogs, Warnock clearly believes his side are capable of competing with the best teams in the Championship.

"The playing squad know we can be competitive in this league," he said.

"We know we have to stick together as a group no matter what is thrown at us.

"I've got a very good dressing room with a great mixture of experience and some of the best kids in the country."