Freedman pleased by gritty Palace (From This Is Local London)

Freedman pleased by gritty Palace

2:03pm Wednesday 21st March 2012 in Crystal Palace FC

Crystal Palace boss Dougie Freedman hailed his side’s never say die attitude after Sean Scannell hit a 92nd minute winner against Barnsley at Selhurst Park on Tuesday, writes Danny Butterwick.

It took Palace's unbeaten to 10 games since they lost the Carling Cup semi-final to Cardiff City and they are now just six points off a top six place.

But Freedman maintained the play-offs may be just beyond the Eagles' reach this season.

"I have always said I have felt the play-offs may be one step too far but these players have a never say die attitude," he said.

“It just shows you the resilience we’ve got, another clean sheet, the belief that we’ve got to keep on going.

"The performance wasn’t at its best, but I felt the belief the team showed, especially in the last 15 minutes when the two sets of players were tired, to dig in deep just shows you why we’re doing so well this year.”

Even with Barnsley having the lion’s share of possession, the game seemed destined for a draw until Scannell arrived at the back post to head home Kagisho Dikgacoi’s cross.

Freedman revealed his belief that there are more goals to come from the youngster, backing him to mature into a striker’s role.

“He’s a very talented young man and when he finally matures into be a striker I’m sure he’ll get a lot more goals," he said.

“He’s very close because he’s a young man, he broke into the team at 17 and through lack of game time and possibly lack of coaching and he’s not really learned his trade to be up top.

“He is getting there and I do believe it’s very soon, possibly this season he’ll have a run out up top and we’ll see how he goes.”