Francis: We're not a soft touch any more

Last updated : 08 December 2002 By PalaceMAD

Francis was celebrating his first anniversary since becoming Palace boss and he was delighted to mark it with a victory over their London rivals.

"We knew it was going to be a difficult game," he said. "Millwall played against a side that was very different from the side they played 12 months ago.

"The improvement was there for everybody to see. It showed we've changed things and we're not a soft touch any more.

"We protected our keeper very well and the three at the back played well. I thought the goal by Danny Granville was very special. It was a good response from his sending-off in midweek.

"Tommy Black has been good in training all week. We practised penalties yesterday and he didn't miss one.

"But on this occasion the keeper must take credit. Tommy is our third penalty taker behind Freedman and Johnson.

"I'm hoping to get our key players out of the treatment room to assemble an attack to get into the top six."