Dailly: We can win play-off lottery
Christian Dailly is backing West Ham to come through the play-off lottery and make it back into the top flight.
The Hammers face Ipswich this weekend in the first leg of their semi-final clash, knowing they could be just three games away from the Barclaycard Premiership.
However, the Scotland defender admits anything can happen as the Nationwide First Division promotion campaign draws to an exciting conclusion.
“To a certain extent, it can be a bit of a lottery, the play-offs, but it is two games so usually the better team comes out over that spell – and hopefully we can be good enough to prove we are,” he said.
“We have not done anything yet – we are in the play-offs, we have given ourselves a chance and that is all we have done.
“If we switch off we will get beaten and be out, so we have to be bang at it.
“We have taken a bit of flak, but with sheer resilience and mental strength we have kept plugging away and given ourselves a chance.”
He added on the club’s official website, www.whufc.com: “It was a tough start and we didn’t win for a little while – and that shows you how well we have done to come back and get ourselves in there.”
There was little to choose between the two sides in their league meetings, with the Hammers winning 2-1 at Portman Road back in August and Ipswich coming through by the same scoreline in their trip to Upton Park on Boxing Day.
“I felt aggrieved that we lost at home to them and they felt the same at Upton Park,” reflected Ipswich manager Joe Royle on the club’s official website, www.itfc.co.uk.
“It promises to be two very close games, but we are looking forward it.”
Iain Dowie insists he will not demand a new contract from Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan after guiding the Eagles into the play-offs.
Dowie is reported to be a candidate to succeed Leeds manager Eddie Gray, who stepped down at Elland Road on Monday, and Palace are vulnerable to an approach because of his 18-month deal.
The Eagles boss has worked a minor miracle at Selhurst Park since taking over at Christmas with Palace near the foot of Division One.
The former Northern Ireland striker has lost only six games of his 23 in charge – a run which has seen wins over both eventual champions Norwich and a convincing 3-0 victory against play-off opponents Sunderland last month.
However, only a last-gasp goal for West Ham at Wigan on Sunday saw Palace maintain their place in the top six.
The former Oldham manager, nevertheless, insists he is happy with the status quo and is not planning to hold talks with Jordan, who has been through six managers in four years.
Dowie said: “People are concerned about your contract when you are doing poorly. I’m not worried about that. My contract is not an issue.”
Given the financial problems at the Stadium of Light this season, Mick McCarthy believes it is testament to the efforts of his squad that Sunderland have managed to make it into the top six at all and secure third place in the First Division.
The former Republic of Ireland manager has, though, now challenged his players to finish the job.
“However you want to dress it up, it’s about beating Palace and getting through,” he said.
“Up to date, it’s a bit cliched, but we’ve not achieved anything – we want to get promoted.”
