Alan Pardew expects Stoke to be affected by League Cup exploits
Alan Pardew has praised Mark Hughes as a "great manager", but believes he faces a simpler task than his rival when Crystal Palace host Stoke in the FA Cup's fourth round on Saturday.
Hughes has impressively rebuilt the reputation that was damaged by his sacking at QPR in 2012 by transforming Stoke from a one-dimensional, direct team into one that is both fluid and attractive.
His recruitment of talents like Bojan and Xherdan Shaqiri gives them a reasonable chance of success in the cup, but after their Capital One Cup semi-final penalty shootout defeat at Liverpool on Tuesday there is a risk they will be under-prepared for Saturday's fixture.
Pardew has also made little secret of his desire to prioritise the competition this season, believing it represents a fine chance for his team to win a trophy, and when asked about playing opposite Hughes in the 1990 final when the then-Manchester United striker's equalising goal denied Pardew and Palace success, he said: "He was a fantastic player.
"And it doesn't always translate (to management), he's one of the few great players that has turned into a great manager, and there's not many who've done that, so hats off to him.
"Stoke's result (at Liverpool), which was tough on them, because I thought they probably deserved to go through, will make it a game that's important for both clubs.
"We both sense it's a competition we can win. We feel we can win it. Over 90 minutes of football it's a more even playing field, and therefore we're going to attack it.
"I'd be foolish to say we haven't got an advantage, we have. A tough game they had this week, and probably Mark is toying over what's his best team, who's got the energy to go and play a tough cup game.
"It is a little bit easier for us in terms of decision making, and going to the game. Those factors might play a part. (But) they might not, sometimes the mid-week game gets you in the zone, so you can never really tell."
Saturday's fixture represents Palace's first since the arrival of Emmanuel Adebayor on a free transfer until the end of the season, but despite his team's recent impotence in front of goal Pardew will resist starting him in the belief he remains short of match fitness.
"Ade won't start on Saturday, this guy has not been around the action enough," he said.
"Whether he'll be involved or not I'll have to see, that's a decision I'll make with Ade. He doesn't look too far away, that's the good news."
Meanwhile, Hughes feels Saturday's trip can provide a significant pick-me-up for his side after their disappointment on Tuesday.
He said: "It is a tough period we are in, with away games with very little respite.
"But we want to get positive results on the board, and we want to progress in the FA Cup.
"The disappointment of not getting to a Wembley final is still with us, so to progress in another competition that leads to Wembley would be a great tonic."
Hughes won the FA Cup four times - as well as plenty of other trophies - as a player, but is still searching for his first piece of silverware as a manager.
And although he is set to ring the changes to his side this weekend, he has stressed the importance of the selection still being "strong".
"It's a great competition and we want to stay in it," Hughes said.
"There's only so many competitions we can win and the FA Cup now is the only one realistically - so why wouldn't you have a go? We are certainly of that mindset.
"It is a competition that was very good to me as a player and as a manager I'd love to have success in it."
Hughes will not be able to call upon midfielder Charlie Adam, who came on as a substitute and then left the field again shortly afterwards in midweek having sustained a calf tear. He has been ruled out for up to six weeks. Geoff Cameron (ankle) and Ryan Shawcross (back) are also on the sidelines.
The likes of Mame Diouf, Phil Bardsley and Jakob Haugaard are expected to come into the team, while Marko Arnautovic is being assessed after he limped off on Tuesday as well.
Source: PAR
