CRYSTAL Palace boss Steve Coppell has sent a message to the supporters of Bury FC - 'We'll do our best to beat Queens Park Rangers.

Speaking exclusively to the Bury Times, he promised to field his strongest possible team for the crunch clash at Loftus Road which, providing the Shakers can beat Port Vale, will decide the fate of Neil Warnock's men.

Rangers, who are locked with Bury on 44 points at the foot of the table, are effectively a point ahead having scored 12 goals more.

Palace must, therefore, prevent them from winning whilst Bury attempt to do the business at Gigg Lane.

Coppell, who knows all too well that he controls the destiny of both struggling clubs, said: "I can't make any guarantees, but we will be going flat out to win the match.

"I will not be fielding a weakened side. We are looking to end the season in victory. "In the last four or five weeks we have had nothing to play for but we have gone flat out and nothing will change."

And he dismissed terrace talk that Palace would give their London neighbours an easy end-of-season ride, adding: "I know if the roles were reversed that QPR wouldn't do us any favours.

"It is very difficult to say 'take it easy' because my team are all young lads. We had to get rid of our high wage earners this year and I lost five senior players on transfer deadline day. My team now consists of three 30-year-olds and everyone else is under 20. Those lads are desperate to make a name for themself and it won't be for a lack of effort if we don't win.

"We owe it to the division to give it our best shot. It is a 46 game competition, not 45."

Palace have been in mixed form in recent weeks, drawing 2-2 with Huddersfield last weekend, losing 2-1 at Watford the week before and 1-0 at home to Swindon on April 17.

Their last victory was over Bradford City on March 28, although they have secured impressive draws against Sunderland and Wolves since then.

"We had a good result at the weekend and were very unlucky at Watford and Swindon, as both clubs would tell you," said Coppell.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.