Perfect Pards

During the first half of the season, I was convinced it would be Crystal Palace’s last in the Premier League. After dismissing manager Ian Holloway and replacing him with Newcastle United’s public enemy number one – Alan Pardew – Crystal Palace look like a brand new team.

They are growing and growing in strength, and recent results have them winning four on the trot – including turning over former title contenders Manchester City.

Their emphatic win over a Sunderland team who are still fighting for their lives puts them just one point outside of the top ten. Should West Ham lose to City at the weekend, and Palace beat a floundering West Brom (both annoyingly likely), they will knock the Hammers out of the top ten and take their place in the top half of the table.