I've seen it mentioned a couple of times, Palace have a new manager, we're first up for them and we'll have to overcome the inevitable 'new manager bounce' that will inspire them and make it even more difficult for us to get anything out of this game.

At least that's the theory, but does it hold up in reality, does it actually exist ? I've just checked the first games of 14 Championship managers and found it's bollox, only one of the 14 won their first game, that was Ryan Lowe at Preston. Often they won their 2nd or 3rd game but a win in their first game was almost as rare as Rocking Horse ****e.

So Palace may well beat us, they're short priced favourites to win the game, but it won't be because they have a new manager.