CRYSTAL Palace boss Ian Holloway believes his players will thrive as "underdogs" going into the Championship play-off final against Watford.
And in Friday's Croydon Advertiser, he talks about as few issues he had down at Brighton for Monday's second leg tie.
But he hailed his team for coming through "the biggest test" and felt they learnt a few things from the first leg at Selhurst Park.
"I think we made Brighton nervous and we learnt from the first game and improved on what we did," Holloway told Advertiser Sport.
"The way Brighton were and the way their fans were, it was almost the biggest test we could have faced and I felt we passed it with fly colours.
"In these big games you want people to step the plate. I think we're still underdogs to go up, and I think it suits us to be tagged with that.
"I think a lot of the Palace fans may have doubted me and my team, but our boys turned into men.
"Yes, we made mistakes, but that happens, and we had a second chance to put things right on Monday. Boy, didn't we take it.
"Life is about big moments and I have said to the players that this is a life-changing moment if you can win and now they have they stepped into the biggest arena with a chance.
"I keep saying I want to do something for Palace and for this group, but I really mean it."
Don't miss Holloway's exclusive column in tomorrow's Croydon Advertiser, where he talks about the rivalry with Brighton, his praise for Aaron Wilbraham under difficult circumstances and those dancing moves in the dressing room.
The contents of this article must not be reproduced without the permission of the Croydon Advertiser.
Follow us on Twitter for the latest Palace news, exclusives and live match updates at www.twitter.com/AdvertiserSport
Palace fans on Facebook, have your say on our page at www.facebook.com/AdvertiserSport
Watch our exclusive away videos following Palace around the country on our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/AdvertiserSport
And in Friday's Croydon Advertiser, he talks about as few issues he had down at Brighton for Monday's second leg tie.
But he hailed his team for coming through "the biggest test" and felt they learnt a few things from the first leg at Selhurst Park.
"I think we made Brighton nervous and we learnt from the first game and improved on what we did," Holloway told Advertiser Sport.
"The way Brighton were and the way their fans were, it was almost the biggest test we could have faced and I felt we passed it with fly colours.
"In these big games you want people to step the plate. I think we're still underdogs to go up, and I think it suits us to be tagged with that.
"I think a lot of the Palace fans may have doubted me and my team, but our boys turned into men.
"Yes, we made mistakes, but that happens, and we had a second chance to put things right on Monday. Boy, didn't we take it.
"Life is about big moments and I have said to the players that this is a life-changing moment if you can win and now they have they stepped into the biggest arena with a chance.
"I keep saying I want to do something for Palace and for this group, but I really mean it."
Don't miss Holloway's exclusive column in tomorrow's Croydon Advertiser, where he talks about the rivalry with Brighton, his praise for Aaron Wilbraham under difficult circumstances and those dancing moves in the dressing room.
The contents of this article must not be reproduced without the permission of the Croydon Advertiser.
Follow us on Twitter for the latest Palace news, exclusives and live match updates at www.twitter.com/AdvertiserSport
Palace fans on Facebook, have your say on our page at www.facebook.com/AdvertiserSport
Watch our exclusive away videos following Palace around the country on our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/AdvertiserSport
