By Andrew McSteen

After officially ending his contract with Newcastle on the last day of 2014, Alan Pardew took over at Crystal Palace a few days later and oversaw his first game as manager in the 4-0 win against Dover in the FA Cup on 4th January.

But not even the most hardcore of Eagles fans would have said that a year later that the Eagles would be sitting in 5th place in the Premier League.

“Of course, results suggest the year’s gone really well,” said Pardew at his final press conference of the year at the clubs’ Beckenham training ground this afternoon ahead of the London derby against Chelsea on Sunday.

“We’ve had an unbelievable year and we want it to continue but you can’t rest on your laurels and stand still in the Premier League so the second half of the season is massively important to us.”

After finishing 10th last season, Pardew’s side are now halfway through the 2015/16 season and have 19 games left to push towards a top five finish but the former midfielder understands it will be tough, but knows the Selhurst Park faithful will play their part too.

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“It’s been a terrific year and it will be hard to match,” he continued.

“2015 will be hard for us to replicate next year but we have a fan base second to none and the love they have for the team in terms of the thrill they are having with the run we’re on at the moment - long may that continue.”

A year ago, Pardew officially departed the north-east with the fans of Newcastle widely reported to be happy that their Wimbledon-born manager had agreed to join Palace.

However, 365 days later Newcastle lie in 18th position and in the relegation places as Palace dream of Europe but it was a different story when Pardew left the Toon.

“I questioned my sanity at the time,” said Pardew. “Newcastle are a big club and Palace were only on 15 or so points, but the timing was right for Newcastle and I.

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“My history at Palace was a player so of course it is close to my heart, but the main difference to Newcastle is that my family and friends live here.

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“Maybe my spirit lifted by the fact that I was nearer home - that may have had a more positive impact on me. I certainly feel my attitude and application as a manager has improved here.

“[Palace Chairman] Steve Parish’s assurances for me on the transfer situation was key for me coming here, I had full authority and we’ve bonded to such an extent that we know how each other works. I like my relationship with him.

“Of course there were doubts but I knew there was a fighting spirit amongst this group of players and an offensive team in there and I knew I could get that out - although I still had to worry that if I didn’t get that out then we would be in trouble.”

Pardew’s red and blue magic worked straight away as the club finished in the top half of the top-flight for the first time in over 20 years despite retaining most of the squad he inherited from previous manager Neil Warnock.

“It’s quite an important role for a manager to give the players belief,” said Pardew.

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“When I came here there was a lack of belief.

“It was important to go from the concept of a manager who was trying to keep the team in the division, to a manager who wanted to finish higher.

“The dynamic of the players towards games changed. I told them to go and win games rather than just see how we go, to just stay in the game. That was really the biggest difference I made; to make the players mentality.

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“I wanted to go and win from the first minute - but you have to have a tactical game plan for that. It wasn’t just gung ho.

“I looked to the senior pros; Scott Dann, Damien Delaney, Jason Puncheon. I asked them ‘what’s gone on?’ I said, ‘come on; I want to change it’.

“Wilfried Zaha, Yannick Bolasie – they’ve been brilliant too – a fantastic response. All the players have been brilliant.”

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