Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock has talked down comments made by his Bristol City counterpart that his players used 'sledging' tactics when they met earlier in the season.

The teams go head-to-head again tonight at Ashton Gate, with Robins boss Gary Johnson fanning the flames by accusing Eagles players of snide comments in their opponents ears during last month's game at Selhurst Park, which Palace won 2-0.

However, Warnock was quick to play down Johnson's remarks.

He said: "I think that might have been tongue in cheek, I don't think we are anything like that.

"I don't think there was anything said to anybody to warrant anything like that, unless they are just trying to build it up for whatever reason they have to."

Warnock meanwhile was full of praise for Johnson, and hailed his achievement at getting them into a position where a win against the Eagles tonight would put them top.

He said: "Gary's done an amazing job for them to be where they are. They've been consistent, it's not a flash in the pan, which was helped by coming up together last season.

"They've been very close to automatic promotion all the way through and they're the ones that nobody is really looking at as they haven't got the finances of the other four up there.

"It will be interesting because once again with how we've been playing nobody will give us a chance and that's the thing about football, you don't know when it's going to turn.

"That's why you have to believe we can go there and get something which I know the lads do."