If it was not for the woodwork at the Walkers Stadium last Saturday, central defender Leon Cort would be Crystal Palace's top goal scorer right now.

As it currently stands, the former Hull City man (pictured) has to share joint sharp shooting honours with James Scowcroft, both having netted three times this season.

With Clinton Morrison and Jobi McAnuff sitting just behind with a brace each, Cort has set himself a target that would represent his best ever haul in a season "As a centre half I'm looking for 10 to be honest"

"Mark Kennedy's deliveries are unbelievable. I know that I can get on the end of them"

Cort thought he had scored just before Tom Soares put Palace in the lead on Saturday, and again moments later when his powerful header flew onto the post in a game Palace were desperate to win.

"It was horrible. Losing two games (in a row) meant everybody was hurting," said Cort.

"We have put that behind us now after this performance. We looked much more solid all over the park which was good"

Trying to put his finger on just why the Eagles had been so bad in their recent home games, Cort suggested it was teams coming to Selhurst Park and raising their game, along with the high expectations everyone rightly has.

"I think that a lot of teams know that when they come to Palace we sometimes don't start that well," he added.

"They know that the fans will get on at us a bit, so they probably work for that.

"It's up to us to stand up and be counted."