IAN HOLLOWAY says that Palace striker Glenn Murray is one of the best players he's ever worked with.
The Eagles boss watched the former Brighton & Hove Albion striker score his 16th and 17th goals of the season against his former employers last Saturday and hailed his opening goal after 39 minutes.
"He's a fantastic footballer," he said. "His football brain is as good as anybody I've worked with.
"He knows the timing and his eye for getting on the end of a cross is completely awesome.
"I've had some great players in my time, and I've been fortunate to work with some fantastic lads, but to be honest, Glenn's right up there with all of them.
"That's nine goals in six games, which is quite awesome.
"He's very clever and I love clever footballers. They try to improve their brain and I'm thoroughly enjoying it and this group deserves all sorts of credit."
Holloway didn't know too much about the rivalry between the two clubs and revealed that striker Glenn Murray was a doubt before the game on Saturday morning.
But the former Seagulls striker hit back to ensure Palace hit the 40-point barrier.
"I'm pleased as punch as I've experienced a wonderful thing in this local derby, and apparently it was a must-win game," said Holloway. "Unless you work for Chelsea, you don't normally have those, do you? It was a fantastic day for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
"I thought the atmosphere the crowd created was superb, including the Brighton fans, and hopefully everyone went home happy.
"We spoke about getting it wide and interchanging and moving, but what we really needed was Glenn Murray with his header.
"He was ill in the morning before the game and wasn't going to play, but we managed to get him out there.
"It was a fantastic cross, he got his eyebrows on it, and before you know it, it's going to be a hard task for Brighton with ten men.
"The way we win the ball back and set those two widemen off the way that Glenn actually capitalises on, and the timing of what he does is really good because it's difficult to know when it's coming into the box."
Meanwhile, the 49-year-old paid tribute to his opposite number in the Brighton dugout, admitting he admires the Seagulls' style of play.
"Gus is a fantastic manager," he said.
"He tries to dominate the ball and pass it. But once they went a man short, that gave us the impetus and we managed to grab it.
"They're a terrific team, I've got the utmost respect for that man and the way he tries to play, and we're both trying to get on with our jobs.
"Gus has got every right to say whatever he thinks is right because he's got a great bunch of lads there.
"You won't catch me talking down about anybody else's player and I'm sure he wouldn't about mine, so good luck to him and what he's trying to do.
"I actually like him, so if that spoils the rivalry, I don't really care. I think football is a wonderful thing and the way Gus' side play, they were hampered with the sending off.
"It really did knock them out of their stride and we capitalised on it.
"Never once did they drop their hands, never once did they stop, and even when I took Mile Jedinak off, they still had the fight at the end.
"I'm sure they'll have their day because they're a good side."
