Papadopoulos set for first league start

Last updated : 30 August 2002 By Tony Scholes

Dimitri Papadopoulos - could be set for first start
Stan loses another player from the list of those available as Paul Cook starts his three match ban with Arthur Gnohere also out serving the last match of his suspension. Also still missing is Steve Davis who has not recovered from the bruised calf and will be out for a third consecutive game.

The likely line up will show just two changes from the side so easily beaten at Reading with Paul Weller returning to replace Paul Cook and Dimitri Papadopoulos coming in up front alongside Gareth Taylor at the expense of the hugely disappointing Alan Moore.

Lenny Johnrose will make his first home start since his return and this will in fact be Lenny’s first start on the Turf since the corresponding fixture two seasons ago. Once again the Clarets will have a bench full of strikers and we are expected to line up as follows:

Nik Michopoulos, Dean West, Mark McGregor, Ian Cox, Lee Briscoe, Glen Little, Paul Weller, Tony Grant, Lenny Johnrose, Gareth Taylor, Dimitri Papadopoulos. Subs: Graham Branch, Ian Moore, Alan Moore, Robbie Blake, Andy Payton.

Crystal Palace will be without recent signing Shaun Derry who suffered a serious facial injury towards the end of their midweek game with Leicester. He is expected to be out for three weeks. His place tomorrow is expected to be taken by Finnish international Aki Riihilati.

Winger Julian Gray is fit again and came through an hour of a reserve game in midweek. However he is still short of match fitness and will not be in the squad that travels whilst goalkeeper Matt Clarke could be out after colliding with Leicester’s Trevor Benjamin. He is expected to be fit but should he not make it Alex Kolinko, more famous for being clipped behind the ear by Mr. Misery, will deputise.

Palace will play a 3-5-2 formation that they use in all away games and if Clarke is fit are expected to line up:

Matt Clarke, Tony Popovic, Hayden Mullins, Darren Powell, Curtis Fleming, Danny Butterfield, Alex Riihilati, Steven Thomson, Danny Granville, Andy Johnson, Dougie Freedman. Subs from: Alex Kolinko, Dele Adebola, Tommy Black, Wayne Routledge, Andrew Frampton, Will Antwi.