Alan Pardew: Patrick Bamford needs to “harden as a professional”

Who will come out on top in the battle of the managers Alan Pardew or Guus Hiddink?

“Maybe my spirit lifted by the fact that I was nearer home – that may have had a more positive impact on me”.

“If they get a forward who can be up front and have the same kind of athleticism as Remy, I think that could see them over the line, that kind of forward, because he can score goals”.

“We have definitely upped our game and Watford, for instance, could not have signed the players they have three years ago”, the Palace manager said.

Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew is in talks with the ambitious Premier League side about a new contract as he looks to deliver silverware.

“We’ve had an unbelievable year and we want it to continue but you can’t rest on your laurels and stand still in the Premier League so the second half of the season is massively important to us”.

‘But I knew there was a fighting spirit in the club, it was up to me to get them to produce it, not just go into a game thinking they might win it, but, going out to make sure they did.

“They’ll also bring expertise and knowledge”.

‘They will be favourites to beat us, and really both clubs should be in opposite positions in the League. He has been one of Chelsea’s best players in the last couple of games, and will mostly likely be on Chelsea’s team-sheet.

John Terry must be at the top of his game if he is to ensure that Chelsea come away from Selhurst Park with a clean sheet and that will be tough against a well-drilled Crystal Palace side.

The Eagles are yet to defeat a member of the traditional “Big Six” at Selhurst Park this season in three attempts – holding Man United and being edged out by Arsenal and Man City – and have won just four of their overall ten league games in south London.

“It’s hard to say [the squad is] worse or better, but it is a bit different”, he insisted.

Yohan Cabaye is confident Crystal Palace can secure a Europa League spot this season.

“The biggest difference I made here was changing the mentality of the players to make them think they could go and win”. And Steve Parish’s assurances to me on the transfer situation were key to me coming here.

The teams’ overall trajectories remain but Chelsea will take great confidence from a win that moves them up to 14th and demonstrated that European football may still not be out of reach.

He goes onto discuss his future and states “I think I have got to be open to all options”.