Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew hails ‘best player’ Jason Puncheon

Pardy time: Palace boss praises away win
Tom Dulat/Getty Images
Charlie Doris8 August 2015

Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew hailed his players for getting him ‘out of jail’ following the Eagles 3-1 victory over newly promoted Norwich City at Carrow Road.

After Palace’s emphatic opening day victory, Pardew let it slip that he got his tactics all wrong for today’s crucial game only to be saved by goals from Wilfried Zaha, Damien Delaney and new signing Yohan Cabaye.

"It was a really good first game, all round really. After about five minutes I realised I'd picked the wrong team today. Norwich were brilliant for the first 20 minutes,” said Pardew.

"Sometimes your players have to get you out of jail, as a manager. I thanked them after the game.”

Palace seemed to be cruising after going 2-0 up with strikes from Zaha and Delaney but Norwich showed their attacking threat and pulled a goal back through a Nathan Redmond effort early in the second half.

Then, with Norwich pushing for an equaliser in the latter stages, Cameron Jerome had a goal disallowed for an alleged high boot and Sebastien Bassong was felled in the penalty area by Connor Wickham but referee Simon Hooper went against the home side on both occasions.

New signing Cabaye then popped up late on the slot home the winning goal and spare the blushes of his manager.

However, Pardew, who is hoping to guide Palace into Europe this season, was quick to praise some of his old guard for getting his side off to a winning start.

"Jason Puncheon was our best player today. Wilfried Zaha was great, but Punch was our best player last season and carried that on today."

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