Ian Holloway has called on his players to be heroes ahead of Crystal Palace’s Championship play-off showdown.
The Eagles take on arch rivals Brighton & Hove Albion in the semi-final, with the first leg at Selhurst Park on Friday evening, and the return leg on Monday.
Only a limited amount of tickets remain for the Selhurst clash, while Palace’s allocation for the away game at the Amex stadium has already sold out.
There is more than just bragging rights at stake over the course of the two games with the winner getting through to the final at Wembley and a chance to win promotion to the Premier League.
Holloway was criticised by fans after the most recent Brighton game for an apparent lack of understanding of the Brighton-Palace rivalry.
Palace lost 3-0 on the south coast in March after beating Brighton 3-0 at home in December.
And the Eagles boss was keen to show he knew exactly what the game means to the fans at this week’s player of the year awards and at his pre-match press conference.
He said: “What it means to the supporters is immense. Believe me I understand that now but I have to be focused on my team.
Fans are set to pack out Selhurst on Friday
“I hope it is a bit of magic that wins it rather than a referee decision or a terrible mistake.
“I will be challenging one of my lads to be a complete hero and become a legend for the rest of his life.
As whoever can score a winner will be a complete Palace legend.
“I am getting a tingling feeling about this. Where else would I get a feeling like this? It is a feeling of pure emotion.
“I have worked with this group for six months and I can’t wait to go through this with them.” He added: “Palace is etched in my heart now."
Holloway added: "My daughter made me a play-off cake which was covered in icing, eagle on top and red and blue in the middle.
“People can’t tell me I am not committed. I know there were some who thought I wasn’t committed after the last time but I know what this means.
“Promotion means so much to this group and at times they were nervous. But I don’t sense that with this group now.
“You will either be a hero or a villain in a game like this. I believe we will be heroes.”
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