Crystal Palace confidence is biggest threat to Bristol City says Sean O'Driscoll

Head coach Sean O'Driscoll reckons Crystal Palace's supreme confidence represents the biggest threat to Bristol City's prospects of causing an upset at Selhurst Park on Tuesday night.

Relegation-threatened City will come up against an Eagles side that boasts a home record second only to leaders Cardiff.

And Ian Holloway's in form team, beaten just once in their last 10 outings, will be in buoyant mood after despatching play-off rivals Middlesbrough 4-1 in south London at the weekend.

O'Driscoll confided: "The biggest threat comes from Palace's confidence. They are coming off a tremendous win against Middlesbrough in which they played really well.

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"I've watched a DVD of the game and they were excellent, especially as an attacking force. Their confidence is something we will have to dent if we can.

"Palace have an unbelievable record in games played on Tuesday nights and it is going to be a difficult game.

"But it is also a game we have to relish – there is no point going there thinking the worst. Everyone has to think of it as a challenge."

Despite losing 2-1 to Cardiff on Saturday, O'Driscoll insists his players are far from downhearted.

He said: "My lads are not dispirited despite coming up against a very good Cardiff side. They stuck at their task and tried to do the right things and that is something we must continue to do regardless of the opposition.

"We have to make sure we do the right things at the right time."

City face the unenviable task of finding a way to nullify Palace top-scorer Glenn Murray and Manchester United-bound winger Wilfried Zaha, who terrorised Middlesbrough at the weekend.

O'Driscoll acknowledged: "Glenn has been fantastic. I spoke to Dougie Freedman about him earlier in the season and he has flourished playing up front, which is a difficult thing to do in the Championship.

"Palace also have two good attacking wide men and Glenn knows that, if he leads the line well, he is going to get on the end of balls into the box. That is why he is scoring the goals he is scoring."

Zaha's form on the wing earned him a £15m move to Manchester United in January and O'Driscoll warned: "The important thing is not to foul him and give away silly free kicks.

"If he is going to do a bit of skill and beat somebody, then make him do it and don't make his mind up for him by diving in.

"The best way to nullify him is not to let him have the ball in the first place. He is only a youngster, but it looks as though he takes things on board and is going to get better. That is why Manchester United have paid such a big fee for him.

"He is someone we are aware. Everyone in the Championship is aware of him and we have to make sure that anything he does is earned."