Team news

Davis back for Eagles Claude Davis is set to return to the Crystal Palace side as they host promotion-chasing Leicester.

The Jamaican centre-half has served a two-match ban for picking up 10 yellow cards and boss Paul Hart could hand him an instant recall.

That would see newly-crowned Football League Young Player of the Year Nathaniel Clyne revert to his usual right-back spot and Danny Butterfield drop out.

Paddy McCarthy is still struggling with a shoulder injury and he is not expected to return until April, though Darren Ambrose managed a full 90 minutes in Saturday's 0-0 draw at Barnsley following an injury scare and he is set to continue.

Striker Stern John is pushing for a start in attack following his return from his loan spell at Ipswich as Hart contemplates a shake-up.

Leicester face defensive problems ahead of the trip.

Wayne Brown suffered a hamstring injury in training last week so Alex Bruce deputised in defence against Cardiff, making his full debut since joining the Foxes on loan from Ipswich at the start of February.

However, Bruce was forced off with an injury against the Bluebirds and it remains to be seen whether he or Brown will be fit.

Nolberto Solano filled in at right-back on Saturday and the Peruvian could be asked to do so again should neither Brown or Bruce make it. On-loan Manchester City defender Ryan McGivern is another option for boss Nigel Pearson and could also be recalled.

James Vaughan made his debut as a substitute against Cardiff following his arrival on loan from Everton and the striker is pushing for a start along with the likes of Nicky Adams, Steve Howard, Yann Kermorgant and Dany N`Guessan.

Crystal Palace vs Leicester

Last modified 22:12 16/03/10

Berner grounds Eagles Bruno Berner's second-half strike consolidated Leicester's Coca-Cola Championship play-off place as they beat 10-man Crystal Palace 1-0.

The struggling Eagles failed to put distance between themselves and 22nd-placed Scunthorpe, but Leicester deservedly claimed back-to-back league victories and have now just lost one in 11 league games.

The turning point of the match was the first-half sending-off of Claude Davis, who was dismissed for violent conduct in an off-the-ball incident with Martyn Waghorn.

The Foxes were also indebted to Chris Weale who made several fine saves.

Paul Hart's Palace men started poorly by giving the ball away several times in midfield, with Neil Danns particularly culpable on his 150th league career start.

They were nearly punished when Leicester launched an attack following a Palace mistake, though Andy King missed the target with a fifth-minute header.

Paul Gallacher should have given Nigel Pearson's men the lead three minutes later when he beat the offside trap, but he fired wide when through on goal.

Davis, who was returning to the Palace squad following a two-match suspension, was then lucky to receive just a booking after he made a rash two-footed challenge on Andy King.

Following a lull where neither side managed to create any chances, both goalkeepers were called into action in quick succession.

First, Calvin Andrew's snap shot produced a fine save from Weale in the 28th minute.

From the resulting corner, Leicester launched a counter-attack and Matt Oakley's strike from just outside the area required a magnificent save from Julian Speroni.

On the stroke of half-time, the hosts were reduced to 10 men as Davis was ordered off.

However, Berner, who found himself in acres of space lashed a shot from the edge of the area over in the 50th minute.

The full-back made amends three minutes later when he followed up Waghorn's shot, which could only be parried by Speroni, and smashed home.

It began to look ominous for Palace as their opponents have not lost a game in which they have scored the opening goal.

That did not deter Danns though and his shot on the hour mark was well saved by Weale.

Gallagher, who scored both goals in Leicester's 2-0 win over Palace in the reverse fixture, nearly doubled the lead but his 20-yard volley was magnificently tipped round the post by Speroni.

Clint Hill's 67th-minute header from Darren Ambrose's corner looked to be heading for the top corner, however the impressive Weale made yet another superb save.