Crystal Palace winger Jobi McAnuff feels the Eagles attempts to overhaul Sheffield United in second place may become a bridge too far, writes Neil McSteen.

Saturday's defeat at Pride Park leaves the Eagles 11 points behind the Blades with six games to go in the race for automatic promotion and the ex-Cardiff man believes Palace may have left it too late to overcome their promotion rivals.

"It's probably out of sight, but you never know," said McAnuff. We've still got to play Sheffield United and Leeds United have to play them as well. So potentially they could drop more points.

"But we've just got to worry about ourselves "Saturday was a prime example of that. If we'd have won it would have put some more pressure on them "But we haven't so we've just got to try and get a good run together for the play-offs if we are going to get in the play-offs."

The defeat at Derby was a bitter pill to swallow for the Eagles, especially after the heroics at Elland Road only four days earlier.

McAnuff was disappointed the Eagles failed to carry over their momentum from last Tuesday night into a game they had to win.

McAnuff added: "To say we are disappointed is an understatement especially after a good win the other day. The boys are just gutted.

"We know that if we are going to be serious about getting second this was a game we had to win. Credit to Derby though, they've got some good players, pass the ball well. You know they are a decent team but we still thought we should have won the game."