Crystal Palace

Alan Pardew: 'Survival the main priority for Crystal Palace'

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 28 February 2016

Alan Pardew concedes that earning a top-five finish is no longer a realistic target for Crystal Palace, but believes winning the FA Cup is still something to aim for.

Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew has conceded that securing a top-five spot in the Premier League is "long gone" for his side, but hopes to still end the season with some silverware.

The Eagles failed to build on a solid start to the campaign and now find themselves down in 14th place following Saturday's 3-2 defeat to West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns.

Having previously talked up Palace's hopes of potentially landing a Europa League berth, Pardew is now simply focused on securing another season of top-flight football for his side.

"You can't lose the players that we've lost," the Daily Mail quotes him as saying. "But we've still got a big part of the season to go. We have the quarter-final of the FA Cup and we've got some big games to play.

"The priority for us is the two fronts - to get the results we need to stay in this division now, because Europe obviously is long gone in terms of league position, and to try and win the cup."

Palace face Championship side Reading in the last eight of the FA Cup next month.