Warnock praises players as Eagles soar into play-offs

3:35pm Monday 5th May 2008

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Crystal Palace boss Neil Warnock hailed his side as a 'manager's dream' after they demolished Burnley 5-0 at Selhurst Park on Sunday.

Goals from Ben Watson, Victor Moses, Tom Soares, Scott Sinclair and Clinton Morrison saw the Eagles roar into the play-offs in front of a sell-out crowd against the Clarets, who had Clarke Carlisle sent off after just seven minutes.

The win lifted Palace into fifth and a play-off semi-final against Bristol City, and Warnock was pleased with the way his side played.

He said: "You're bound to enjoy it when you're playing like that. As a manager you dream about your team playing football like that and I didn't want them taking their foot off the pedal.

"At half time I asked them to get some more goals and show people around the country what we're made of.

"I don't think in your wildest dream you expect to score five goals but we've been positive all week.

"We've tried to keep pressure away from the players and you try to get them to enjoy it as a training session. I think that's what we did, we played the game as if it was a training session and we played with a smile on our faces."

Palace got off to the perfect start after seven minutes when Carlisle misjudged Julian Speroni's long kick, allowing Sinclair a free run on goal before the defender tripped him inside the box.

Carlisle was sent off and Watson calmly slotted the penalty into the bottom corner.

Two minutes later Palace doubled their advantage as Jose Fonte's header found the unmarked Moses in the box and he volleyed home first time.

Sinclair and Watson had further chances before Morrison skipped past Brian Jensen and set up Soares to tap home from a yard out.

Speroni saved brilliantly from Robbie Blake before half time, but it was Palace who came out after the break looking like scoring again.

Paul Ifill and Morrison had chances before Sinclair ran at the defence from 45 yards out and evaded three challenges before firing into the bottom corner with an hour gone.

Morrison rounded off the victory three minutes later with a fine finish from just inside the box.

• To see pictures from the match click here