Simon Jordan's bold promotion prediction and John Harbin's programme notes for the season opener drew some unwelcome press coverage. Our stock has risen after last year's Premiership exploits and with the AJ saga now resolved, the national press needed something else to blow out of proportion cue arrogant Palace'!

Norwich suffered similarly with Dean Ashton's constant transfer speculation while the vultures continually circle around Southampton concerning Redknapp and Woodward. The wheels are simply supposed to fall off recently relegated clubs.

With a minimum of 48 matches to be played this season, I agreed with limiting the pre-season friendlies to four senior games. The choice of opposition did surprise me however, Eintracht Frankfurt and West Ham (like Luton) were brimming with confidence having recently gained promotion.

In my opinion a couple of trips to League One and Two sides would have been better preparation for the division.

After our shaky start, those cobwebs finally seem to have blown clean away. Three successive wins and four Andy Johnson goals in five games have us moving in the right direction.

It was great to see Clinton back in a Palace shirt. He has scored over 70 career goals for the club and AJ's brace over the weekend equalled that. It would be magical if either/both of them reached 100 in our centenary season.