Pardew: great opportunity for players

WEST HAM manager Alan Pardew is confident his team can finally hit their stride when they take on Palermo in tonight’s UEFA Cup return leg.

The Hammers travel to the Renzo Barbera stadium needing to overcome a 1-0 first-leg deficit in order to continue their European adventure. Pardew’s team have won just once this season and face an Italian side that is third in Serie A.

“I feel this is a great opportunity to put in a really top-class performance, which I don’t think we’ve given since the game when we lost at Liverpool,” said Pardew, who believes his players are eager to show a better image than they gave in their opening leg at Upton Park two weeks ago.