IAIN Dowie aims to bite the hand that once fed him when Burnley fly into the Eagles nest tomorrow.

New Crystal Palace boss Dowie credits Clarets chief Stan Ternent with helping him settle into management following a chance meeting several years ago.

But he vowed there will be no old pal's act with crucial First Division points at stake.

Dowie admitted: "Burnley have a vastly experienced manager in Stan, who really knows his way around the ropes.

"I was on a coaching badge course with him many moons ago and I got to know him then.

"He helped me with a bit of advice and that's always helpful when you are in a foreign land, so to speak."

Dowie, who took charge at Selhurst Park only last month, added: "Stan always produces sides that attack teams.

"They have good attacking players in Glen Little, Ian Moore and Robbie Blake, so they carry a real threat and that is shown by their goals total."

Palace currently occupy a position just above Burnley in the league following the recent departure of former boss Steve Kember.

In Dowie, they will be hoping for a manager that brings a change of fortunes.

Dowie's first game in charge saw his side slump to a 1-0 home defeat to Millwall, followed by the boost of a stunning 3-1 away win at play-off hopefuls Ipswich.

The Eagles interest in the FA Cup was ended at the first hurdle by a Freddie Kanoute-inspired Spurs last weekend in a 3-0 White Hart Lane rout.

But new incumbent Dowie will happily swap cup glory for keeping Palace's heads above water for the rest of the season.

He added: "What we must concentrate on is producing the same kind of performance we have in the last two league games and we will be fine."