Dover V Crystal Palace at Crabble Stadium : Match Preview

03 January 2015 15:01
Dover V Crystal Palace - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Pardew pleased to come 'home'



Alan Pardew wants to restore the spirit of his playing days after coming "home" to take over as Crystal Palace manager.

Pardew was released from his Newcastle contract on Saturday morning and signed a three-and-a-half-year contract to return to the club he served for four years as a player.

The former midfielder was part of a successful spell in the club's history between 1987 and 1991, scoring the winner against Liverpool to take them to the 1990 FA Cup final.

And in an interview broadcast on the club website, he said: "I think the fans remember that era I was in, they admired the spirit and they'd probably like to see a bit more of that. Hopefully I can bring that back.

"It's been a while since I played here but it's somewhere I know well and it's close to my heart.

"It was difficult because I'm leaving a big club in Newcastle (but) really and truly, my home is in this area and for me it's what you would class, as close as you can as a manager, as your own club."

Pardew takes over a side in the bottom three that has not won for eight matches, since the 3-1 victory over Liverpool at Anfield on November 23.

And he acknowledged: "It's a little bit sticky at the moment and we need to find a way out of that.

"The players have got great attitudes here, I've been very impressed. Can I help change that energy into more tangible results?

"That might take a transfer, it might take a change of style a little bit, and that's what hopefully a manager of my experience can do."

Pardew is the permanent successor to Neil Warnock, after Keith Millen took caretaker charge for the goalless draw against Aston Villa, and becomes Palace's fourth manager in less than 18 months.

Warnock succeeded Tony Pulis in the summer, with the former Stoke boss also serving less than a year before walking away in a dispute over transfer targets.

Pardew's departure signals the end of an eventful era at St James' Park during which he took the club to fifth place in the Premier League and the quarter-finals of the Europa League, but also came in for concerted criticism from some fans.

Owner Mike Ashley remained strongly behind him, though, even after he had been banned from the touchline and fined for head-butting Hull midfielder David Meyler in March.

Pardew "cannot change Crystal Palace in two days", according to Dover boss Chris Kinnear.



Conference club Dover host Palace in Sunday's FA Cup third-round tie, aiming to ruin new manager Pardew's first match at the Eagles helm.



Pardew had a hand in Palace training on Friday before finally completing his move from Newcastle in time to coach Saturday's last session before the Dover trip.



Dover will make club history if they reach the fourth round, and manager Kinnear believes Pardew's arrival will have little bearing on the clash.



"It doesn't matter who the manager is, ultimately it's down to the lads on the pitch," Kinnear told Press Association Sport, after Pardew assumed control form caretaker Keith Millen.



"He can't change Crystal Palace in two days; the players can't change the way they play in two days.



"Everyone around the country will be willing us to win, unless you're a Palace supporter of course.



"And who knows, maybe the Newcastle supporters will be on our side as well!



"They are relatively local to us, we have some players who live in that area.



"Alan's arrival means more attention on the game, we've got a capacity crowd and we can't wait.



"We won't change how we play, yes we'll have to defend of course, but we are still going to go for it.



"And why shouldn't we? Wrexham beat Arsenal, Sutton beat Coventry, so maybe now it can be Dover beating Palace - there's a chance."



Dover have already seen off League Two opponents Morecambe and Cheltenham to reach the FA Cup's third round for a second time.

Defender Sean Francis is hoping to be fit enough to come into consideration for Sunday.

Francis suffered a groin injury during the 2-2 draw at Altrincham on December 20 and is closing in on a return to the squad. Should the 24-year-old be involved, he could find himself playing against his former Bishop's Stortford team-mate - Palace striker Dwight Gayle.

Chris Kinnear is still recovering from a knee operation and the cup clash will come too soon for the midfielder.






Source: PA