Freedman heaps pressure on Bluebirds

Crystal Palace manager Dougie Freedman insists all the pressure is on Cardiff's "nearly" men ahead of the Carling Cup semi-final second leg.

The Eagles will take a 1-0 lead to Wales, courtesy of Anthony Gardner's header a fortnight ago, and are just 90 minutes from Wembley and a meeting with Manchester City or Liverpool.

Freedman claims the hosts will be feeling the weight of expectation as well as haunted by the memories of falling short in big games during recent seasons. The Bluebirds have lost in the play-offs to Reading and Blackpool in the last two campaigns, and missed out completely on the final day of the season three years ago.

And Freedman said: "I think they are under more pressure to succeed. Maybe not in this competition, but with the money they have spent this season. Their fans expect to succeed, they are a passionate crowd and one that has nearly got there. In the play-off games they have always been a nearly team, nearly getting there.

"We are just enjoying ourselves, no one expected us to be here, we are looking forward to a challenge that most people thought we would never see. There are two levels of expectation, Cardiff have got a bit more pressure on their shoulders than we have got right now.

"The experience we have got is from relegation battles, not from play-off semi-finals like Cardiff have had. It's a great club but I think with the fans' expectations and the heartache they have had over the last few years is difficult to take. At Selhurst Park the atmosphere is different - we almost can't believe we are here, it's sheer enjoyment."