Palace boss Iain Dowie was maintaining his silence over media reports he held talks over the managerial vacancy at Blackburn Rovers.

Although Welsh boss Mark Hughes looks set to take over at Ewood Park, one national newspaper reported that Dowie held talks with Blackburn on Monday.

But on Tuesday, Dowie said: "No comment. There is nothing to comment on. It's speculation as far as I am concerned. I don't know anything about it."

The 39-year-old is unhappy at the lack of transfer funds he was handed this summer to keep Palace in the Premiership and has yet to put pen to paper on a new four-year deal he agreed with chairman Simon Jordan. Meanwhile, Dowie is set to ring the changes of Saturday's crunch clash with Manchester City.

He said: "Is it likely to be the same team? Probably not."

Defender Fitz Hall could replace Tony Popovic in defence, with Ben Watson and Michael Hughes making a welcome return. Julian Speroni could be displaced by Gabor Kiraly for his Palace debut.