Crystal Palace boss Tony Pulis plays down Cardiff team 'leak'

Crystal Palace boss Tony Pulis has played down reports the club were given Cardiff's team-sheet a day before their Premier League defeat of the Bluebirds.

The Eagles beat the Welsh team 3-0 at the Cardiff City Stadium on 5 April.

Cardiff chairman Mehmet Dalman claims his team's line-up was leaked to Palace 24 hours before the game, though a formal complaint is yet to be made.

"Irrespective of who or where it has come from, it is pure speculation until the team-sheet comes in," said Pulis.

Cardiff, who remain in the bottom three despite a 1-0 win at Southampton on Saturday, are taking disciplinary action against two employees over the alleged leak.

Pulis's side followed up their defeat of Cardiff with a 1-0 win over Aston Villa to further ease their relegation fears.

He added: "For three weeks we have picked the same formation and same team, we haven't changed anything.

"Although I try and avoid it myself, I have known managers change the team 10 minutes before the team-sheets have gone in so it is very difficult to say it is definitely going to be that team."

The Welshman, whose side have won three successive league games to climb seven points above the relegation zone, said he would not trust anyone with insider information on an opposing team.

He said: "I'm never, ever convinced what team we are going to play against until that team-sheet comes through the door."