'If we're in it, we can win it' says new boss Alan Pardew

Alan Pardew took charge of Crystal Palace for the first time on Sunday and saw his side cruise through to the Fourth Round of The FA Cup.

A first-half double from Scott Dann got the Eagles flying on the south coast before strikes from Dwight Gayle and Kevin Doyle after the break completed a 4-0 win over Conference outfit Dover Athletic.

And the former Newcastle boss, who once scored an FA Cup Semi-Final winner for Palace, was pleased with the way his players tackled what could have been a tricky tie.

“I actually thought from the outset we put into the game what I asked,” said Pardew.

“The attitude and application of this group I didn’t really question, because anyone who has seen Crystal Palace would know that we tick that box.

“But it’s about passing the ball, opening up the pitch, a bit of quality and exuberance and that was a box we ticked today in a really good way. We’re not going to stay in the Premier League unless we express ourselves and I thought we did today.

“I had a few texts from friends asking why I’d put myself through this one and couldn’t I have let it ride by, but I think it’s important once you’ve secured and signed your contract to start work from that minute.

“So there was no hesitation from me and yesterday we did some work on the team and made sure we prepared ourselves for Dover as we would have if it was against a Premier League team.”

Scott Dann celebrates scoring for Palace

Pardew takes over at Selhurst Park with his side in the bottom three of the Premier League, but he knew that with his side coming into this game with one win in eleven games, a victory was vitally important.

And he’s also happy to use any run in The FA Cup to help build confidence in his squad for the second half of the season.

“I said to the players that an FA Cup run gives confidence and it breeds a winning mentality, and it was important that we won the game today so we’re in the hat,” added Pardew.

“Like any cup competition, if we’re in it, we can win it.”

The former Reading, Southampton and Charlton manager was also given a warm welcome to the hot-seat by the travelling fans from south London.

With the game only seconds old, his name was being chanted from the stands and Pardew has promised to bring an attacking style of play to the team.

“It’s lovely that the fans already have a special bond with me through my playing days here and I’ve been on the other side of that support and noise that they generate at Crystal Palace,” he added.

“They’ve been brilliant over the last 18 months and we need to keep that noise level as it was today, which was excellent.

“It was a great start. I’m really pleased because the staff and players have been terrific.”

Meanwhile, Dover Athletic boss Chris Kinnear urged his players not to take the defeat too hard.

The Kent side saw their 16-game unbeaten run come to an end.

But Kinnear wants his team to put their disappointment behind them and build on what they’ve achieved in The Cup.

Palace eased through to the Fourth Round

“How can we be disappointed after what we’ve achieved? When we came in, people were saying that we were going to go down,” said Kinnear.

“All of a sudden, we’re in the Third Round of The FA Cup and four points off the play-offs.

“We’ve got to push on from here.

“There are disappointments, but if it’s one disappointment from 17 games then that’s not bad going really.”

And Kinnear believes the recent appointment of Pardew at the south London club didn’t help his side’s chances.

“We started nervously and they really went for us,” he added.

“When a new manager comes in, they’ve got something to prove and it’s the [transfer] window, so he could move one or two out, but they obviously want to stay.

“It’s disappointing because we haven’t played as well as we can do but realistically, they’re a massive club.

“It was difficult because they sat back a little bit and made the pitch big for us and we just couldn’t get going.

“It’s one of those things, we’ve just got to move on.”