Darren Ambrose has warned Crystal Palace against complacency as they prepare to defend their 1-0 Carling Cup semi-final first-leg advantage over Cardiff on Tuesday night.

The Eagles are just 90 minutes away from booking their first appearance at a major cup final since the 1990 FA Cup Final defeat to Manchester United.

They know if they avoid defeat against their Championship rivals they will be heading for Wembley, where they will meet either Liverpool or Manchester City in the final next month.

Ambrose, who scored one of the goals of the season so far in Palace’s unforgettable 2-1 win at Manchester United in the quarter-final, says they are approaching the second leg at the Cardiff City Stadium with confidence but knows they will come a cropper if complacency creeps into their game. Those looking at the Carling Cup odds final should remember this.

“If we go into the match with that (over-confident) attitude then we will get turned over,” he said.

“We played Cardiff two months ago and lost 2-0 and if it is the same score they’ll be through.

“We have to go in with the attitude that it is 0-0 and we need a goal. If we can score once then they will have to score at least three times over 120 minutes.”

Ambrose admits the semi-final clash will be one of the highlights of his career and hopes to again play his part in helping Dougie Freedman’s side progress to the final.

“If you can’t enjoy games like this then you shouldn’t be playing football,” he added. “These are the games you dream of when you are growing up. Big nights like this in the semi-finals.”

Despite his warning over over-complacency, the midfielder says confidence his high in the Palace camp ahead of the trip to South Wales.

“We’re not nervous at all,” he said. “We are 90 minutes away from a big cup final but I think if everyone can go out there and enjoy themselves we’ll be all right.”