Palace v Millwall – Team news preview

Last updated : 02 December 2005 By Nik Taylor

Palace take on bottom-of-the-table Millwall tomorrow at Selhurst and will welcome back striker Andrew Johnson for his first league start since mid-September.

Johnson came off the bench to play the final 20 minutes of last week’s defeat at Luton, and also played the first half of Wednesday’s Carling Cup match at Middlesbrough.

He’s expected to play up front with Clinton Morrison, leaving in-form Dougie Freedman to drop to the bench.

A stack of other players will return to the starting line-up after being rested for the cup visit to the Riverside.

Gabor Kiraly will regain his place in goal from Julian Speroni, and Fitz Hall and Darren Ward will return to the centre-back spots in place of Mark Hudson and Tony Popovic. Ward will be facing his old Millwall team-mates for the first time since leaving The Den during the close season.

Tom Soares is also expected to return in place of Mikele Leigertwood.

The Lions had Colin Doyle, Ady Williams and Zak Whitbread and former Eagle Bruce Dyer cup-tied for their midweek cup match, but all four are set for a return to the team on Saturday.

Dyer is expected to start for Millwall as they have striker Barry Hayles suspended and there are fitness doubts over Carl Asaba. Defender Phil Ifill is also expected to miss out through injury.

Probable Palace XI:

Kiraly
Boyce Ward Hall Borrowdale
McAnuff Soares Watson Hughes
Johnson Morrison