Crystal Palace One To Watch - Alan Lee

Crystal Palace are the visitors to the Cardiff City Stadium tomorrow after the International break and will be hoping the Bluebirds have lost momentum after scoring 10 goals in 180 minutes prior to the International break. The Palace team are hard working, unafraid to get stuck in and have some talented players within their ranks. Darren Ambrose is a good performer at Championship level, Sean Scannell and Ryan Smith are dangerous players while keeper Speroni can be unbeatable on his day.

Nevertheless, it is a Cardiff City old boy who will likely lead the Eagles line and will be out to score against his former club. Alan Lee was an £800k buy from Rotherham by Lennie Lawrence after the Irishmen netted twice against us. However he never fulfilled his potential and rarely scored the goals we expected from him. Dave Jones effectively swapped him for Steve Thompson - another hard working but goal-shy striker and Alan Lee moved onto Ipswich Town where he excelled. Following his departure from Portman Road, Lee has travelled to Norwich and is now at Crystal Palace and looking to re-find the form he showed when leading the Tractor Boys line.

Lee was a likeable person and tried hard as a Bluebird. He was burdened with high expectations, and was unable to deliver under pressure which led to Bluebirds supporters getting on his back. The latter part of his spell saw him struggle with a hernia problem, but he soldiered on valiantly because we had no-one else.

We know what Alan Lee is about, he will fight for everything and make a nuisance of himself. He will get joy in the air is we let him and would dearly love a goal against his former club. Cardiff City fans will be pleased that Lee is unlikely to beat our defence for pace, or with trickery which is an area where the Gerrard/Hudson combination has looked shaky.

Lee has scored three goals so far for Crystal Palace this term, here`s hoping that tally remains the same after Saturday.

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