Alan Pardew has Crystal Palace daring to dream

Alan Pardew has never been slow to offer reminders when he has done something well, and considering Crystal Palace’s transformation from relegation-threatened to top half of the table this year, backed up by the most impressive transfer dealings of any side outside of the top six excepting Stoke, that knowing grin has widened.

It would be unjust to say things only started going right for Palace when Pardew took the reins on 2 January. Tony Pulis had done a fine job before walking out on the eve of last season, despite his replacement, Neil Warnock, veering them off track.

But it has been Pardew — the former player looking to redeem himself after an ultimately unsuccessful time at Newcastle where he was unloved and unlikely to progress the team due to a fractious relationship with the owner, Mike Ashley — who has taken them to the next level.